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HISTORY 

OF 

FARMINGTON, 

MAINE, 
FROM ITS FIRST SETTIEMENT TO 1846, 

With Sketches of the 

HISTORY OF OTHER TOWNS IN FRANKLIN 
COUNTY. 



By thr late Thomas Parker, Judge of Probate. 



Second Edition. 



FARMINGTON: 

J. S. Swift, Publisher. 

1875. 



HISTORY 

OF 

FARM INGTON 

MAINE, 

FROM ITS SETTLEMENT TO THE YEAR 

184 6. 



/ 



By the Late Thomas Parker, Judge "of Probate. 



SECOND EDITION. 

FARMINGTON; 

J. S. Swift, Publisher 

1875. 



CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES. 



177G— N Stephen Titcomb and others maclf thefirst "cutdown" in Fainnington. 
Battle of Bunker Hill. 

1781 — First families moved into Farmington and first sawmill built. 

1782 — Stephen Titcomb born, NoA^ 14, being the first white child born in 
Farmington. — First gristmill built. Abraham Wyman settled in 
Chesterville. 

1785 — Great freshet in October. 

1786 — Wm. Thorn died in Autumn, the first death among the settlers, 

1790 — Township purchased of the State. 

1794 — Town incorporated Fel). 1. — Frost, June IG, kilk-d all the corn in the 
low lands. 

171)5 — Great winter freshet in Jan. broke up the Kennebec and Sandj^ Riv- 
ers, causing much damage at Hallowell. Bread scarce in conse- 
quence of frost. 

1799 — Great freshet June 8. Remarkably wet season. 

1800 — Bread very scarce. 

1801 — Washburn drowned at the center of the town ; found April 21 near 
James Butterfield's. 

1804 — Dysentery prevailed; very mortal; from thirty to forty died. 

180(5 — Sept. 10, frost killed the corn; none ripe; some saved on hisih lands. 
June 10, great eclipse of the sun. 

180S — Corn killed by frost in some pbu-cs. 

1810— Cold Friday, Jan. 19. 

1814 — Cold or typhus fever appeared and 2)revailed to great extent in this 
and adjacent towns. 

181G — Cold season; very little corn raised. 

1817 — Great scarcity of bread. 

1820 — Great fresliet in October; water rose seventeen feet. 

1825 — Dysentery prevailed the second time; not so mortal as in 1804. 

1828 — Caleb Sprague killed, March 28, by a fall from his wagon; aged 73, 

1830— William Tilton died at the age of 95. 

1831 — Joseph Fairbanks, 1st, killed l)v falling from his wagon in Augusta; 
Sept. 12. 

1832 — Asiatic Cholera made its appearance in Quebec and Montreal, and 
soon after in the United States. 

1K33 — Nov. 4; Solomon Adams killed by being thrown from his carriage 

in Vienna. 
183G— Jan 20; Dinah June died at tlie age of 104. 

1838 — County of Franklin organized. 

184G — Aug. 8; Tremendous hail storm in the easterly ])ari ot the town ; 
more M'ater fell than was ever before known lo lull in town in the 
s.rn.' s'):u';' of t:;ne: cro])s nuich injured. 






PREFAC'E ro TUi: SECOXi) EDITION. 



Judge Parker's History of Farmint?ton and Sketch- 
es of other Towns in ErankHn County was published 
in 1846. Ahnost thirty years have since elapsed. — 
The edition then published was very limited, and the 
work has been for several years out of the market, 
and the original publisher has been often urged to 
issue another edition And indeed the necessity for 
a second edition has become urjjfent. Years aso 
Judge Parker was called to that more perfect world, 
where, durinf^ an unselfish and a long life, he had 
accumulated eternal treasure in cheerful, happy, and 
holy memories ; and the aged cotemporaries from 
whom with unwearied industry he gathered facts and 
incidents — are no longer accessible to mortals; and 
the very existence of the mass of important and in- 
teresting facts — the result of his observations and 
collection, depends entirely upon the only history of 
Farmington ever yet written. 

This preface is not the place for a Memoir of Judge 
Parker, and while assigning a place for an attempt 
to do justice to his memory in an Appendix and 
Continuation of his History, the publisher will here 
merely say that Judge Parker was conspicuous for 
one ruling trait of character — a love of usefulness — a 
consecration to usefulness. To this trait we are in- 



4 Preface. 

debted for this history, and for the peculiarities of 
the work. In the immense labor of accumulatins: the 
materials he sought ^o remuneration — nor in its pub- 
lication did he receive any — excepting a few copies 
for distribution among a few particular friends. Lit- 
erary considerations he sought not. Embellishment he 
never attempted, and imagination he studiously sup- 
pressed. With the mere object of usefulness in res- 
cuing facts from oblivion he made his book a vast 
magazine of facts and dates upon which future histo- 
rians may draw indefinitely. Thus he has left us, 
within a narrow compass facts numerous enough to 
have tempted others to stretch them through a pon- 
derous volume. 

It was the dying wish of Judge Parker, expressed 
to the publisher a few days before his death — that 
when another edition might be called for, the origi- 
nal work — with a few corrections indicated — should 
appear in its original simplicity, while such additions 
as it might seem to need should be appended rather 
than incorporated. This explains the plan of the 
issue of this second edition. Only a very few chang- 
es — these merely for correction — and occasionally a 
few explanatory words in brackets are incorporated, 
while a continuation of the history, through thirty 
years succeedhig its first publication, and additional 
facts associated with older dates, may be expected to 
follow the publication of this edition in the form of 
an appendix. The change of the divisions into num- 
bered and titled sections, is necessary to facilitate 
references in the ap])cndix, 

Pnrminsrton. Me.. 1875, Publisher. 



} 



HISTORY OF FARMINGTON. 



1. — Situation and Boundaries. 

Farmtngton, the shire town of the County of 
Franklin, is located in that section of the State of 
Maine commonly called the Sandy River, situated 
thirty miles from Auojusta, the capital of the State, 
and about seventy miles, something east of north 
from the city of Portland. Farmington is bounded 
west by the towns of Wilton and Temple, north by 
Strong and Industry, east by Industry and New Sha- 
ron, and south by Chesterville. 

2. — The Sandy Biver. 

Farmington is drained by the Sandy River and its 
tributaries. The Sandy river takes its rise in the 
highlands which divide the waters of the Kennebec 
from those of the Androscoggin. Mount Abraham, 
Saddleback and Mount Blue, summits of this highland 
range, are among the highest elevations in the State. 
The westerly or principal branch of the Sandy River 
takes its rise in the Sandy River Pond, a small pond 
south of Saddleback, and running in a south-easterly 
direction through the eastern part of Letter E, and 
Madrid to Phillips, unites with the eastern branch, 
which taking its rise in and about Mount Abraham, 
runs through Phillips and Avon to Strong, where it 
unites with the north-east branch, and runs to Farm- 
ington Falls, dividing Farmington nearly in the cen- 
ter. From Farmington Falls the river flows in a 
north-easterly direction through New Sharon, Mercer 



6 History of Farmington. 

and Starks, and discharges its waters into the Ken- 
nebec, opposite the Monument. Mills have been 
erected on this river in Starks. New Sharon, Farming- 
ton, Strong, Phillips, and Madrid. 

3 — Wilson Stream. 

The next considerable stream is the Wilson Stream 
It rises in Saddleback and Bald Monntain in Car- 
thage and the highlands in the south part of Temple, 
and after falling into Wilson and Varnum Ponds in 
Wilton, the waters are discharged at the southern 
extremities of each, and uniting near the Lower Vil- 
lage in Wilton, run in an easterly direction through 
Wilton, Farmington and a small part of Chesterville 
and form a junction with the Little Norridgewock, 
when the united rivers run in an easterlv direction, 
dividing the towns of Farmington and Chesterville, 
and fall into the Sandy River just above Farmington 
Falls. On this stream are some of the best mill sites 
in 'this section of the State. It now has four sawmills 
and three gristmills in Wilton, with two starch facto- 
ries, and a woolen factory, besides other machinery. 
It has also a gristmill, a fulling-mill and carding-ma- 
chine in Chesterville, and a sawmill in Farmington. 
It is crossed by two bridges connecting Farmington 
and Chesterville, and by several others of less note. 

^.—Daris' Starling, or Temple Stream. 

The Davis'— formerly Starling's Mill Stream— takes 
its rise on the southern slope of Mount Blue, in Tem- 
ple, being mostly fed by springs. The different branch- 
es unite near the outlet of Drury Pond in the east 
part of Temple, the stream running in a southerly di- 
rection through the remaining part of that town and 
a part of Farmington, and falling into the Sandy Riv- 
er a little below the center of the town. This stream 
is also favorable for mills. It now has several saw- 



IIisTOKV OF Farm iJSG TON. 7 

mills and one gristmill in Temple, and one starch 
factory; and a starch factory, sawmill, gnstmill and a 
clover-mill in Farmington. Numerous bridges cross 
this stream both in Temple and Farm.ington. 

b.—Fairbaak.-^'' or Jones^ 31iU Stream 

The F'airbanks' — formerly Jones' Mill Stream — ris- 
es in New Vineyard Mountains and fills a small pond 
in Industry. Rumiing in a south-west direction it 
discharges its waters into the Sandy River a short dis- 
tance below Fairbanks' Bridge. On this stream are 
a tannery, a sawmill, gristmill and clover-mill, and 
it is crossed by a bridge on the river road. 

6. — />/w?i/'8 Brook —Beaver Bam Brook, rf'c. 

In addition to waters already named may be reck- 
oned Blunt's Brook, and Beaver Dam Brook, which 
run fiom the north-easterly part of the town in a 
southt rly direction, and fall into the Sandy River be- 
tween the Center Village and the Falls. Small streams 
and springs everywhere abound, affording water to 
every farm and family in town. Good water may be 
found in almost any place at a moderate depth. 

7. — Fish; Salmon: Alewives. 

Salmon were formerly plenty in the Sandy River 
and were the only fish of much consequence to the 
inhabitants. They were taken by seines and spears 
to advantage as late as ll'd'l or 179o, after which 
date they decreased rapidly in consequence of Jie 
erection of mills. Few if any now get above the Falls 
at the lower extremity of the town. Alewives were 
formerly taken as high up as Titcombs Mills on the 
Davis' Mill Stream, but have now become extinct in 
this region. The salmon-trout and pickerel are the 
principal fish now taken from the Sandy River and 
its tributary waters, and with which many of the 
ponds and streams abound. 



8 History of Farmington. 

8. — Wild Animal-<: Hunting. 

The streams and forests of the Sandy liiver Valley 
originally abounded with beaver, otter, sable, and va- 
rious species of animals yielding furs which afforded 
liberal encouragement to hunters. Moose were taken 
in great abundance in the winter season. Prior to 
the exa:i:ination of the region in 1776, for the pur- 
pose of making a settlement, it was unknown to any 
civilized people excepting those who explored it for 
the purpose of hunting, for which purpose a Mr. 
Stewart Foster and a Mr. Ephraim Allen of Winthrop 
made a stand on the Sandy River through the winter 
of 1780. They encamped near where the Fairbanks 
Bridge now stands, in a camp belonging to Pier- 
pole — he being absent. They killed a large quantity 
of moose, and at the opening of spring constructed a 
canoe of their skins, in which they went down the 
river, with their effects, to Hallo well.* 

9. — Natural Meadows. 

There are but few natural meadows in Farming- 
ton and these are small, but such as they were they 
afforded great assistance to the early settlers in win- 
tering their stock. The intervales and forests served 
them for pasture in the summer season. 

10. — Soil : Forc-it Groiclli ; Scenery. 

The soil of Farmington is generally fertile and 
more easily cultivated than that of the State general- 
ly, especially the intervales and the uplands adjacent 
to them; though some of the highlands, particularly 
in the north-west section of the town are somewhat 



* The game in the Sandy River Valley attracted the attention of the In- 
dians, and lience they f^ave the river tlie name "Mus-sa-lun-squit," which 
they subsequently, in tlieir quaint Enyligii, translated to the whites as mean- 
ing — " A place where yuu can go and get plenty of moose, deer, fur." 
&c. : — literallv. ••(Joodlluiititig (Ground. " — Farinir.iitoii C'lironicle. Xo. (i."). 



History of Fakmington. ^ 

rocky and hard to cultivate, but their superior qual- 
ity for graziiii;- and the raising of stock, well recom- 
penses the labor of the husbandman. The natural 
fores*: growth is that of the several kinds of maple, 
birch, "beach, ash, elm, bass wood, pine, hemlock, fir, 
spruce, cedar, with some oak on the highlands, and 
hackmetack on the low lands. The .appletree and ma- 
ny kinds of fruit are cultivated with success. The 
soil is productive of most kinds of grain and vegeta- 
bles, the low lands being best adapted to tlie growth 
of corn, and the highlands to that of wheat. ^ Lime 
rock has been discovered hi many places in this and 
adjacent towns, but those who have attempted its 
manufacture into lime have had but little success, and 
owing to its inferior quality perhaps it may never be 
profitable for mechanical purposes. The extent of 
the intervales, the gentle rise of the uplands, the 
convenient ridges into which it is thrown, the superior 
quality of the "soil and the varied natural forests with 
wbicdi the town abounds, present one of the most 
pleasing prospects in the State, and one which perhaps 
is not surpassed by any.* 

11. — livad^. 

There are two leading county roads through Farra- 
ington passing longitudinally north and south— one 
on each side of the"^ river, which, with various others, 
leading in various directions, all centering in, and 
passing the center of the tovrn, take a large amount 
of travel. The great roads that pass north and south 
accommodate most of the travel from the interior towns 
to Hallowell and Augusta — the principal market for 
this part of the vState. Much of the business, howev- 



* The editor of the Gosjiel Banner, who has hcen soniewliat of a traveler, 
refers to a spot a little ahove Farmington Falls, as atlordiny one of tlie two 
most magnificent landscape views he has ever hehcld. It is somethinj;- oi' a 
compliment to the taste of the now venerable Stephen Titeomh, Esq.. that 
the spot in which his axe first distnrhed the sluml)ers of the primeval for- 
est is eml^rnccd in the forearround of this view. 



10 History of Farmington. 

er, which was formerly done in these towns is now 
done in Farmington. 

12. — Bridges; Pitblic Buildings; Common. 

There are two bridges across the Sandy River, sup- 
ported by the town of Farmington, and the most of 
another supported in connection with Chesterville. — 
The public buildings consist of an Academy, Court 
■ House, Jail, a County Building for several offices, 
five Meeting Houses and twenty-two School Houses. 
The Common — a public square in the center of the 
ViUage — encircled by rows of rock or sugar maple, 
forms a pleasant and agreeable object, and adds much 
to the beauty and convenience of the place. 

13. — Farminglon Firsl Explored; The Party; Tlieir Route. 

The tract hoyv comprised within the territorial lim- 
its of the town of Farmington was first explored, with 
a view to settlement, in 1776. The exploring party 
consisted of Stephen Titcomb, liobert Gower, James 
Flenry, Robert Alexander, and .James Macdonnell. — 
They were piloted by Thomas Wilson, who had pre- 
viously explored the region as a hunter. The whole 
parly were from Topsham, and they came in canoes 
up the Kennebec as far as Halloweli, which then con- 
tained but three or four houses and some fish stores. 
F^rom IJallowell they proceeded by a bad road, ever 
a very thinly settled tract, to Mr. Rumford Smith's, 
just above the present site of Lane;'s Oil Mill, Mr. 
Smith's being the last house. From this place they 
traveled by a compass a west-north-west course, sup- 
posing that this would enable them to strike at or 
near the "Great Intervale."' They struck the Sandy 
River at New Sharon Falls, near where the mills now 
stand — crossed the river, and traveled along its north- 
ern bank to F'armington F'alls. From the Falls they 
proceeded uj) the river about a mile, to the south- 
east line of the farm known as the Tufts Farm, now 



History of Farmington. 11 

owned by Samuel Daggett. Here they stripped some 
basswood bark for a substitute for a chain, and com- 
.menced measuring off lot^^ for farms. They made the 
lots one hundred rods in width. They measured off 
six lots which they divided by lot among them. Af- 
ter prosecuting their explorations further up the 
river they conchidcd to return to Topsham, procure 
tools, and return to commence clearing, in two weeks 
from the time of concluding the agreement. 

14. — Indiany- 

At Farmington Falls Mr. Titcomb and his party 
found two Indian camps — Pierpole's and Phillip's — 
and some Indian corn and potatoes growing. They 
here found a considerable tract of land cleared, ex- 
tending from the upper part of the present site of 
the village down the river to the edge of New Sha- 
ron. The remains of a considerable Indian village, 
and of a fort enclosing about an acre of land, were 
to be seen. The fort was situated near the center of 
the tract now covered by the Falls Village. The In- 
dian burying-ground has since been discovered in dig- 
ging the cellar to the Croswell house. Several skel- 
etons were found in an upright position. Tradition 
relates that many years before, a boy by the name 
of Knights, was captured in the town of Gorham, 
and carried to the Sandy Uiver, where he was kept 
through the winter. The camp of the Indians was 
on the "Great Intervale," near the spot first improv- 
ed by Mr. Titcomb. In the spring the boy was left 
with the squaws while the Indians again repaired to 
Gorham to obtain scalps and more prisoners. Young 
Knights found a way of escape, and passing within 
sight of the Indians, arrived in Gorham in season to 
give notice of their approach, which warning prob- 
ably prevented an inhuman. massacre. Tomahawks, 
arrow-heads, and other Indian relics have been dis- 
covered in different parts of the town. 



12 HisiofiY OF Farmington. 

15. — The Farlij return to the Sandy River by a New Route.' 

At the time appointed the party supplied them- 
selves with batteaux, and ascended the Kennebec to 
the Cobosseconte Stream, (now Gardiner.) — carried 
their batteaux around the falls, and followed the 
stream till they came to the Indian Great Carrying 
Place, which leads to AVinthrop Great Pond, passed 
up this pond to South Pond, near Winthrop Facto- 
ry, carried to the pond near Read field Comer, then 
proceeded up Bog Stream to Greely's Pond, and car- 
ried one mile to Crotchet Pond, [Parkers Pond?] — 
From Crotchet Pond they carried two miles to a pond 
west of the liidge in Chesterville, [Norcross Pond?] 
and followed its waters down the Little Norridgewock 
to Sandy River. They felled some trees on the lots 
they had previously selected, and after exploring the 
country to a greater extent than they had done on 
their first visit, descended the Sandy lliver to the 
Kennebec, and navigated that river and Merrymeet- 
ing Bay to their homes in Topsham. 

16.— i^VoHt 17 16 to 1781. 

From the date of the beginning described, this com- 
pany, with others, continued to make improvements 
in different parts of the town till 1781, when the 
first families removed into the Sandy River Valley. 
About this time another company came from the vi- 
cinity of lialiowell to explore, with a view of mak- 
ing a settlement on the Sandy River. The two par- 
ties formed an Association in Hallowell, Dec. 17, 
1777, known by the title of ''The Proprietors of a 
Townskip 01] Sandy River." The Association after- 
wards became known as the firm of "Reuben Colburn 
and his Associates." At their meeting Ephraim Cow- 
an was chosen Clerk, and arrangements were made 
for Iptying out a road to the township. James Cowan 
and Moses Aires were chosen a Committee to petition 



History of FARM]^■GiON. 18 

the General Court for the road. At the first attempt 
the petitioners failed to procure a grant in conse- 
quence of a supposition that the township would fall 
within the limits of the Plymouth Claim. In the fol- 
lowing season — July -8, 1778, — the Associates had a 
meeting to ]ietition to the Plymouth Company, hut 
as douhts respecting the title were entertained, they 
concluded not to petition, but made arrangements to 
open the road hud out the previous winter, from 
John Stearns' land to the mill stream on which Tit- 
comb's [Walton's] Mills now stand. The meetings of 
the Associates were generally held at Amos Pollard's, 
in that part of Hallowell now Augusta, and their bu- 
siness was conducted by a clerk, treasurer and a com- 
mittee of three, who were chosen annually, and their 
expenses were paid by assessments on the rights in 
the township. After some verbal communications 
from Mr. Bov/doin, Chairman of the committee of the 
Proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase from the Colo- 
ny of New Plymouth, it was voted, at a meeting 
held on the '24th of May, 1779, to make some pro- 
posals to Mr. Bowdoin on condition that he would 
give warrantee deeds, and Mr. Weston was chosen 
to make the proposition. 

17. — The Original Survey. 

It appears by a memorandum signed in Boston, 
Oct. 4, 1779, by James Bowdoin, Daniel Jeffries, Jas. 
Hewing and John Hancock, and from an alteration 
annexed, dated at Boston, March ^3, 1780, signed by 
Henry Allen, Proprietor's Clerk, that the following 
arrangenient was made with the Committee of the 
Proprietoi's of the Kennebec Purchase, by Eeuben 
Colburn and his Associates, viz: — That the Associates 
should cause a survey to be taken of all that tract 
of land west of Kennebec River and north of 
the southerly line of Settler's Lot No. 70, in the 
town of Vassalborough, now Sidney, and south of the 



14 History of Farmington. 

mouth of Sandy Iliver, and extending westerly fifteen 
miles ; viz: — Tlie course of Kennebec River to be 
taken, then, commencing at the mouth of Sandy liiv- 
er, to run a due west course fifteen miles, there to 
make a corner marked K. 15 M.; thence southerly 
two miles; thence varying the courses so as to con- 
form to the courses taken on the Kennebec River, 
until it strikes the Little Norridgewock Stream, there 
to be marked K. 15 M., to show that it is 15 miles 
from Kennebec River, on a west-north-west course ; 
and from, thence to the first mentioned bound. The 
ponds and rivers to be laid down on the field-book, 
together with the growth of timber on the land, and 
the quality of the soil, and every thing of a remark- 
able nature, including the road laid out to the town- 
ship which was to be surveyed from the rear of this 
tract of land, and the line of which was to com- 
mence at the junction of the Little Norridgewock 
with the Wilson Stream — from thence to foUovv down 
the Wilson Stream to Sandy River, thence down the 
river about half a mile, from thence a due north 
course until it should intersect the fifteen mile line 
running west from Kennebec River, making the town 
about ten miles in its longest extent. The township 
was to be laid out in lots of tv»'o hundred acres, and 
two hundred and fifty acres, alternately, that is, first 
a lot of two hundred acres, then a lot of two hun- 
dred and fifty acres, next another lot of two hundred 
acres, and so on through the whole town, except on 
the Sandy River, where all the lots were to be of 
equal extent, — sixty rods on the river, and not to ex- 
ceed one hundred and fifty acres; the whole to be laid 
out with as much equality as possible. One of the 
one hundred and fifty acre lots was to be for the 
first settled minister, and one of the two hundred 
acre lots to be for the use of the ministry, both to 
be marked M. The one hundred and fifty acre lots 
on the river were to be marked, first, P. for propri- 



H IS 10 II Y OF Far.mi.ngton. lo 

etors, next 8. for sotticrs, and so on, altcnuitoly, and 
the two hundred ;ind fifty acre lots were to be mark- 
ed P. for proprietors, and the two hundred acre lots 
S. for settlers; first layin<^ out a lot on the mill stream 
for encouraging the bnilding of a gristmill and a 
sawmill for the accommodation of tlie inhabitants, 
not to exceed one hundred and fifty rods in width, 
and to run three liundred rods back from the river, 
if there should be room. An exact plan of the town 
was to be made out, and the plan, with the field-book 
to be returned to the Clerk of the Proprietors of 
the Kennebeec Purchase, by the tenth of the follow- 
ing May. The survey was to be at the expense 
of the Associates, if they were admitted as settlers on 
certain conditions. When the survey was completed 
and the return made according to directions, the Com- 
mittee concluded to recommend to the owners to ad- 
mit the applicants as settlers in the township. They 
were to obtain a written license from the owners, and 
with such as might associate with them, each select 
a settlers lot, to Nvhich he was to be entitled after 
a residence of two years, with conditions that he should 
build a house not less than twenty feet square, and 
seven feet in the stud, clear five acres of land with- 
in three years, and actually live on tiie premises him- 
self during three years, or in case of his death, his 
heirs or some one under them t^ complete the term 
of residence, he or some one under him likewise to 
reside on the premises seven years longer, and work 
on the ministerial lot, or on a house for the public 
worship of God, two days in a year for ten years, 
when required by the Committee of the Proprietors 
or their agent,— and also two days each year on the 
public roads till the lands should be incorporated 
into a town ; each one likewise agreeing to submit 
in public affairs to the decision of the majority of 
the settlers at any public meeting regularly called. 
The settlers were to petition the owners, and the 



16 History of Fakmiisgton. 

p]an was to be made and returned bv the 10th of 
May, 1780. 

It appears that the survey was completed, and the 
returns were made, agreeably to dh'octions, in June, 
1780, by Joseph North, Esq. But as it was consid- 
ered somewhat doubtful whether the town would fall 
within the limits of the Plymouth Claim, no further 
measures were taken to obtain a title to the lands 
till after the Revolutionary War, when the bounda- 
ries were settled between the State and the Plymouth 
Company. 

A front lot and a back lot making a right in the 
town, the settlers chose a Committee to couple them 
according to quality, and draw them by lot, on the 
17th of May, 17bO. Some, however, who had com- 
menced improvements on particular lots were exempt- 
ed from this mode of division, and permitted to retain 
the lots they had before selected. The result of draw- 
ing the lots was recorded in a book kept by the 
Clerk of the associates, and agreeably to a vote of 
the associates, all conveyances of lots were to be re- 
corded by their Clerk in his book, which was admit- 
ted as evidence in the trial of the action, '"Simeon 
Pane vs. Thom.as and Timothy Johnson," in the Su- 
preme Judicial Court, at the October Term, 1816. by 
the Court directing depositions to be taken of some 
persons who were present when the lands were divid- 
ed and the lots drawn, and also that the deposition of 
Solom.on Adams, Esq., should be taken in perpetuam, 
identifying said book, and confirming the records of 
said book, — he being the last Clerk of the Associates. 
This being done agreeably to the directions of the 
Court, and the deposition recorded in the Registry 
of Deeds for Kennebec County, and annexed to the 
book, it was directed that it should be lodged in the 
Town Clerk's Office for the use of the town, or any 
person who may have occasion to use it in defense 
of his title. 



History of Farmington. 17 

18. — Laying out, Boad — Survey Finii^Jted. 

In July, 1780, measures were taken to lay out and 
open a road from the head of Chandler's Pond to 
Farmington, and to build a bridge over the Little Nor- 
lidgewock Stream, and in the year following a con- 
tract was made to have one built over Wilson's 
Stream, In 1 782 a vote was passed to have the sur- 
vey completed as soon as might be, the side lines of 
the lots not having been run when the plan of the 
town was made, the lots only having been fronted on 
the river, with the corners of the back lots marked 
on the range lines of the first survey, 

19.— First Mills Built in 1781. 

It was agreed by the Associates, July 4, 1780, that 
Reuben Colburn and Stephen Pullen should build the 
mills at Sandy River, upon their giving bonds that it 
should be done by the first of August, 1781, and 
that they siiould be kept in repair seven years. The 
sawmill was first put in operation in Nov, 1781, and 
the gristmill in the following August. 

20. — Heelings of the Associates. 

The first meeting of "Colburn and his Associates," 
held at Sandy River, was on the 15th of Oct., 1183, 
at the dwelling house of Samuel Butterfield, where 
their meetings were afterwards held as long as they 
continued to transact business in that capacity. At 
this meeting they chose Samuel Bullen Moderator ; 
Nehemiah Blodget, Clerk; Peter Corbet, Treasurer ; 
and Reuben Colburn, Samuel Butterfield and Nathan- 
iel Davis, Committee, — who were empowered to finish 
the survey in the most convenient possible manner for 
the Associates. The next meeting was held on the 
12th of May, 1785, which was organized by choos- 
ing Samuel Butterfield, Moderator; Solomon Adams 
was chosen Clerk; Peter Corbet, Treasurer; and Sam- 
uel Butterfield. Solomon Adams and Nehemiah Blodfet, 



18 History of l\\iiMiNGTON. 

Committee for that year. At this meeting the^^ took 
measures to settle with Joseph North and Solomon 
Adams fo,r the survey of the town, which had previ- 
ously been completed. Samuel Butterfield, Church 
Brainard and Solomon x\dams were chosen a Commit- 
tee to dispose of lots on which the dividends had not 
been paid. Tiiis meeting was continued by adjourn- 
ment to the first Wednesday in March, 1786, in the 
course of which period the Proprietors closed most of 
their business, and made an assessment of one pound 
on a right for the repair of roads, to be paid in labor 
at four shillings a day. Setli Greely and Church 
Brainard were chosen Surveyors to see it expended, 
and make returns to the Committee. Samuel Butter- 
field, Solomon Adams and Samuel Bullen were chosen 
Agents on matters relative to securing their titles ; 
but it does not al)pear that anything decisive was 
done till Feb , 179U, or any records kept of the doings 
of the Associates. 

2 1 . — Stephen TUcomb. 

We shall now trace the settlement of the town 
from the commencement in 1781, till the title was 
obtained in 1790, from the Commonwealth of Massa- 
chusetts. Stephen Titcomb, Esq., as has already been 
stated, commenced making improvements on the farm 
on which Capt. Gill now lives, in Sept., 1776, which 
he continued to enlarge till 1780, when he built a log 
house, having before lived in a temporary camp. — 
That season lie raised some corn, potatoes and turnips. 
Having secured his corn in a crib, and his potatoes 
and turnips in the ground, he returned to Topsham. 
From Topsham he started with his family in the win- 
ter of 1781, intending to move immediately into his 
log house, but on account of the depth of the snow 
he was compelled to stop through the winter at Con- 
stant Norton's in Readfield, near the spot now occu- 
pied ])y the Brick School House, his being the last 



History of Faumington. 19 

house. In the spring he came up and got in his 
crop, and then went down after his family. On the 
road he met Joseph Brown and Nathaniel Davis, on 
the way, with their families, to the Sandy River. — 
Mr. Titcomb immediately returned with his family. 
The corn, which the fall before he had secured in a 
crib, was destroyed by bears while he w^as detained 
by the snow^ His potatoes and turnips having kept 
well, the potatoes supplied seed for the settlers that 
year. The stock which Mr. Titcomb brought with 
him consisted of a yoke of oxen and three cows, which 
he provided for by pasturing them in the woods in 
the summer season, and by cutting meadow hay and 
raising oats for fodder in the winter. The nearest 
mill at this time was at Winthrop where the Facto- 
ry now stands, about thirty miles distant. This cir- 
cumstance subjected the settlers to great inconvenience, 
as the road was bad and the settlers were deficient 
in means of transportation. A sawmill, how^ever, was 
put in operation as early as November, 1781, when 
Mr. Titcomb went up with his team to haul in tim- 
ber to saw for the running gear for a gristmill. He 
staid all night and sawed a thousand feet of boards 
in the evening, being the first boards sawed on the 
Sandy Eiver or any of its tributaries. The gristmill 
was set in operation in August following, which re- 
lieved the settlers from one of their greatest embar- 
rasments, Mr. Titcomb built his first barn in April, 
1785, and his house in 1788, into which he .moved 
in 1789. The Kev. Mr. Emerson preached the first 
sermon in the Valley of the Sandy River in Mr. Tit- 
comb's log house. Stephen Titcomb, Jr., son of Mr. 
Titcomb, was born Nov. 4, 1182, being the first white 
male child born in the town. He died Sept. 26, 1830, 
Mrs. Titcomb was a native of Johnstow-n, Rhode Isl- 
and. She died Nov. 6, 1839, at the age of ninety. 
Mr. Titcomb lived on the farm on which he first set- 
tled 59 years. In 1840 he sold his farm to Capt. 
Charles Gill, and removed to the village, where he 



20 History of Farmtngton. 

was living in 184(3 at the advanced age of ninety- 
three years. At that date he was the only survivor 
among the heads of the seven families who first spent 
the winter in the town. 

22. — Joseph Broion. 

Joseph Brown and Nathaniel Davis removed from 
Winthrop to this then uninhabited wilderness in May, 
1781. Their families were the first families who 
moved into the town, or anywhere this side of Read- 
field. Mr. Brown settled on the farm which in 1846 
was owned by John Brooks and Loring Sweet. Hav- 
ing made but little preparation for the accommoda- 
tion of a family, Mr. Brown erected a temporary camp, 
which answered his purpose till he became able to 
build a more substantial one. Mrs Brown, whose 
maiden name was Mary Greely, was one of the six 
heads of families of the same name, and children of 

Greely, who early settled in this town. They 

were natives of Haverhill, Mass. Mrs. Brown being 
lame and there being only a path bushed out along 
the river, was under the necessity of riding on horse- 
back, notwithstanding the many dangers of the road. 
Coming down a steep descent within a short distmce 
of their destined residence, she was thrown over the 
horse's head at the risk of her life. Mr. Brown built 
his first house on the intervale where it was surround- 
ed by water to a considerable depth in the great fresh- 
et of 1785. when the family had to make their es- 
cape in a conoe during the darkness of night. Af- 
ter this he built another log house on the upland. 
He suffered severely by the loss of his crops in 1783, 
by a frost on the 9th of August. He put up the 
first framed barn in the upper part of the town in 
about 1787, the boards of which were fastened on by 
pegs. This was an invention not uncommon with the 
early settlers, and which answered a valuable pur- 
pose. He erected his house in 1793. Mr. Brown. 



History of Farmington. 21 

was born on the banks of the IMerrimac, in Massachu- 
setts. He served as a soldier in the French War, in 
which he was made partially a cripple through life, 
by the lodgement of a ball in his leg. The ball was 
never extracted. He came to the place poor, himself 
and wife partially crippled, but by persevering indus- 
try and strict economy they soon became clear of 
debt and independent, but from circumstances mostly 
beyond his control, he subsequently became reduc- 
ed in circumstances and his farm was sold to John 
Patterson, from IJamariscotta. About 1796 he remov- 
ed to Industry, (then Plymouth Paten*^,) with his eld- 
est son, Samuel Brown, where his wife soon after 
died, and the wife of his son likewise. The family 
having been broken up, he was supported by the 
town of Industry, where he died about 1810. 

23. — Nalhaniel Davis. 

Mr. Davis, who as has been already stated, remov- 
ed to Farmington in May, 1781, and whose wife 
also was a Greely, settled on the farm now owned 
by Jacob Abbott, Esq. His situation was similar to 
that of Mr. Brown, he having made little or no pre- 
paration for the reception of a family. He, howev- 
er, fitted up a camp which answered his purpose for 
a time. He afterwards erected a more substantial log 
dwelling. He subsequently became insane, and, in- 
clining to forsake the society of his family and betake 
himself to the forest, he made the little eminence 
just south of the nresent residence of Rev. Samuel 
Abbott [since the Little Blue Family School] his prin- 
cipal abode. The eminence was then covered with a 
thick growth of spruce. He afterwards became quite 
rational. For about three years previous to 1793, 
Jeriah Blake lived with Mr. Davis and his wife, who 
had no children. Mr. Davis, about this time remov- 
ed to the "Upper Town," — now Phillips, — where his 
wife died. He afterwards resided in the family of 



22 History of Farmington. 

Mr. Blake, in Temple. He was subject at times to 
partial insanity, and was afterwards supported by the 
town of Temple, where he died. Mr. Davis' farm 
passed into the hands of Samuel Pool, who set up a 
tannery and continued business for some years. Mr. 
Pool was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and 
with his wife was livins" at advanced aore in Mount 
Vernon, in 1846. 

24 Jeriah Blake. 

About 1190 Jeriah Blake removed with his family 
from Augusta into this tovfn, and took up his resi- 
dence, as already stated, with Mr. Davis. About 1798 
he removed to the farm in Wilton, owned in 1846 
by Adam Mott. Mr. Blake died at the residence of 
his son, John L. Blake, in Phillips, July 14, 1840, 
at the age of 89. He was an officer in the Revolu- 
tionary Army. 

25. — Enoch Craig. 

In June, 1781, Enoch Craig, Robert Kannady, Cal- 
vin Edson and Gerret Burns came from that part of 
Hallowell now Augusta, for the purpose of viewing 
the country. Mr. Kannady had drawn a right in the 
town the year previous. Mr. Craig was a native of 
Wrentham, Mass. He early enlisted in the Conti- 
nental service and served until 1780, when he left 
the army and came into this part of the country for 
the purpose of procuring land on which to settle. — 
His brother Elias was then settled at Augusta. The 
party returned immediately, and in Sept. Mr. Craig, 
with William Jvannady came up and felled some 
trees on the farm on which Joseph S. Craig now lives, 
and on that known as the Heath Farm, on whieh Mr. 
Kannady settled. They^ found some bark peeled, of 
which they constructed a camp. Mr. Craig sowed 
two bushels of winter wheat in the fall of 1782, 
^vhich was all winter Killed. He sowed the same 



History of Farming ion. 23 

ground with spring wheat in 1783, and planted some 
corn which Avas all killed by the great frost in Au- 
gust. In 1785 he suffered considerable damage by 
the great freshet which flowed his hovel to a consid- 
erable depth, and injured his grain. ]Mr. Craig con- 
tinued to make improvements, and added to his farm 
the lot immediately above it. He erected a superior 
log house near the intervale. In the winter of 1789 
he went to Augusta, with Dorothy Starling his in- 
tended wife, for the purpose of being married. There 
was then no one nearer who '\vas authorized to sol- 
emnize marriages Their intentions of marriage had 
been previously published at Augusta. He erected 
his framed barn about this time, but his house was 
not raised till 1795 or 1796. He possessed the uni- 
versal confidence of his townsmen, and was elected 
one of the first selectmen, in which office he served 
some years. He was subsequently town treasurer, 
and held other responsible offices, all of which he 
filled with fidelity. He died Dec. 10, 1835, at the 
age of 77, and his wife Feb. "2, 1829, at the age of 66. 

26. — William Kan nadij. 

AVilliam Kannady, as has been stated, commenced 
on what has since been called the Heath Farm, in 
1781, where he made a permanent settlement. He 
erected a log house on the first rise from the inter- 
vale. In Jan. 178s his wife died. She was the third 
adult who had died in the town. Mr. Philip Daven- 
port, who lived near the present site of Fairbank's 
Bridge, lost a child a few days before, and they were 
both buried in what is called the Old Burying Ground, 
near the Center Bridge. This was the first Burying 
Ground in town. Mr. Kannady was afterwards mar- 
ried to Sarah Smith. They accompanied Mr. Craig 
to Haliowell for that {)urpose. He continued on the 
farm on which he first began till 1792, Avhen he sold 
to Benjamin Heath, from F'reetown, Mass. Mr. H. 
set up and carried on the blacks raithing business in 



24 History of Farmington. 

connection with forming, for some years. About 1817 
he sold and removed with his sons to what is now 
Salem, and built the first mills in that place, where 
he died in 1826. Mr, Kannady removed to what is 
now Temple, and, after a number of removals he 
again settled in Farmington, where he died in 1820, 
aged 57. His wife was living in 1846. 

27. — Solomon Adams. 

Solomon Adams, a native of Chelmsford, (now Low- 
ell, Mass.,) having served in the War of the Revolu- 
tion from its commencement to near 1781, in the 
course of that year came to the Sandy River for the 
purpose of settling, He made some improvementson 
the farm on which Benjamin Adams now lives, and 
built a log house. At this time he brought his pro- 
visions from Chelmsford to Boston by land, from Bos- 
ton to Hallowell by water, and from there to his 
destination on horseback. He lost his barn by tire, 
with all his eifects, in 17^8. He erected his first 
framed house in 1788, and married Hannj^h Butter- 
field about the same time. He was a practical survey- 
or, in which capaciy he was of great use in the then 
new country. Mr. Adams held various offices in the 
militia, was early commissioned as Justice of the 
Peace, was chosen Town Clerk, Treasurer, and Select 
Man, in all of which offices he served for many years 
with credit to himself, and to the interest "of the 
town. He was killed in Vienna by being thrown from 
his carriage, Nov. 4, 1833, at the' age of seventv-five. 
His wife was living in 1845 on the same farm', and 
was drawing a pension from the United States for the 
services of her husband in the War of the Revolu- 
tion. 

28 . —NeJicmiah Blodget. 

Nehemiah Blodget begun on the farm known as 
the Brown Farm, in the lower part of the town, now 
owned by Daniel Beal, Jr., [George Gower,] in 1780, 



History of Farming ton. 25 

where he made a permanent settlement and hnilt the 
first framed house in Farmington, about 17^5. The 
same house has since been fitted up and now stands 
on what was a part of the Tufts Farm, a little east 
of its former location. Mr. Blodget sold to a Mr. 
Ditson. Capt. Samuel Brown settled on this farm 
in IHOI, and erected new buildings. He died in 1811. 
His widow, Susannah Brown, was living in 1846 at 
the advanced age of 94 years. Mr. Blodget soon left 
the place and little is known of his history. 

29. — Samvrl and Jonas BuUerfield. 

Samuel Butterfield and Jonas Butlerfield removed 
from Dunstable, Mass., to Farmington in Nov., 1781, 
bringing their families in a wagon. They came 
through Lewiston to Monmouth, over a new road, 
where there was only a spotted line the spring pre- 
vious. Samuel Butterfield settled on the lot now 
owned by Moses Butterfield. tiaving no buildings 
erected, he set up four crotches on which he laid 
poles and covered them with elm bark, which answer- 
ed a valuable purpose for a dwelling house for some 
years, with the addition of a small framed building, 
the first of the kind put up in the town. These build- 
ings were occupied by Mr. Butterfield till he built 
what was long called the Butterfield Red House, 
about 1789, (now white, and occupied by Moses But- 
terfield.) Mr. Butterfield built the brick house now 
owned by Col. James Butteifield, in 1800, the first 
brick building erected in town. Mr. Butterfield was 
one of the three who purchased the town in 1790. 
He was chosen representative in 1808, and died the 
same year at the age of ot5. Prudence Butterfield, 
his youngest daughter, (now [184:6] Widow Wliittier, 
formerly Russell,) born Feb. 12, 1184:, is said to have 
been the first female born in town, but it appears by 
the Records that she was the second, a Mr. Page 
having had a daughter born in the winter of 1783. 



26 History of Farmington. 

Jonas Biitterfield settled on the farm now owned by 
David Ingham, where he died at an advanced age 
The farm cleared by him passed to David Ingham, a 
son-in-law, and from him to the present occupant. 

39 — Jonathan KnowVon. 

Jonathan Knowlton 1st, moved into this town in 
1781, from Damariscotta. He was a native of Ips- 
w^ich, Mass., and he settled on the farm now [1846] 
owned by Jonathan and Francis Knowlton. He built 
his first log house on the intervale, where it was 
surrounded by water in the great freshet in Oct. 1785, 
to the depth of four feet. He was compelled to con- 
vey his family across the river in the night in a ca- 
noe, to a higher peak of intervale on which Francis 
Tufts had built a log house, which was all surround- 
ed by water. Here they all remained in trembling 
anxiety, expecting to see the canoe sunk by the drift 
stuff which run without cessation from the low lands 
then in the process of clearing, till the last trip was 
made, and to their astonishment and joy all were safe- 
ly landed. Mr. Knowlton soon after built a more 
substantial log building on the upland. He lived in 
this till about 1796 when he built a framed house. 
At this date he was in easy circumstances, though in 
the commencement of pioneer life his family suffered 
in common with many others, as is frequently the 
case in making new settlements so far in the wilder- 
ness. For the first year they were not favored with 
a chair or a table, and for the want of a mill had to 
hull corn and pound samp. Mr. Knowlton was one 
of the principal agents in the purchase of the town- 
ship now New Vineyard. He was also the principal 
owner of the mills and machincr) at Farmington Falls 
for a time. He died in 1819, at the age of 70. — 
Samuel Knowlton, his second son, was born Jan. 1 4, 
118:^. beina: the second male child born in town. 



History of Farmington. 27 

31.— Peter Corbetf. 

Peter Corbett brought his family into the new set- 
tlement from Winthrop in Jan. 1782. Mr. Corbett 
was a native of Millford, Mass. He had moved his 
family from Millford to Winthrop the year previous, 
His family remained in Winthrop while he was mak- 
ing preparations for their residence in Farmington — 
He was one of the Associates and drew the lot on 
which he settled. It was the south part of the farm 
now [1846] occupied and owned by Kufus Corbett 
and sons, on which he built the second framed house 
in the town, in 1 7H6 (This has i-ecently been torn 
down.) Mr. Corbett made the bricks for his chim- 
ney on his farm. He is supposed to have made the 
first bricks made in Farmington. Mr. Corbett made 
the seventh family that wintered in town in 1782.— 
He was one of the first selectmen, in which office he 
acted for many years. 

S2.— Francis Tufts. 

Francis Tufts, a native of Medford, Mass., having 
married a daughter of Ebenezer Blunt and settled in 
Nobleborough in 1780, came on horseback to a Mr. 
Emerson's on the farm since known as the Ingham 
Farm, at the foot of the Folsom Hill in Mount Ver- 
non, from thence by a compass struck the Wilson 
Stream near the present location of the Whittier 
Bridge, and then traveled up as far as Strong, his 
object having been to explore the country. He pur- 
chased a possession of one Mr. Knights, the farm on 
which Samuel Daggett now [1846] lives, and contin- 
ued to make improvements till Nov. 1783, when he 
removed his family, together with Mr. and Mrs. Blunt, 
his wife's parents. He was four days on the road. 
He brought his children in hanyards made of basket 
stuff, on horseback. He came some distance on the 
east side of the Kennebec, under the bank at low 
water to Pittston Ferry, there crossed, then had a road 



28 History of Farmikgton. 

to Mount Vernon, and then followed a spotted line. 
They brought little more than their beds. Mr. Tufts 
had erected a log house which he covered with elm 
bark and Hoored with hewn basswood ])lanks and 
made partitions of lumber of the same description. — 
The jambs and back were of hemlock. He cut the 
■first English hay, though Mr. Titcomb raised the first 
corn and grain. His corn was injured by the frost 
on the 9th of Aug., 1'783, yet he saved his red corn. 
Mr. Blunt died in 1784, the first instance of the 
death of an adult in the town. Mr. Tufts built the 
first mills at the Falls in 1788. sold one half to Mr. 
Jones in 1790, and he built his framed house on the 
intervale in 1791, and his bani previously to that 
time, and his brick house on the road in 1800. He 
was one of three who purchased the town in 1790. 
He sold his farm and removed to the upper part of 
the town about 18 — , and subsequently to his son's, 
near the old farm, when he relinquished business. — 
On the death of his wife he went to the State of Ohio, 
in 1831, where he died in Oct., 1884, at the age of 
93 years, 

33. — t7e.s-.se and William Gould. 



Jesse and William Gould removed from Dunstable, 
Mass., in 1782. Jesse settled on the farm now own- 
ed by Ira Armsby, and married with Starling. 

They sold in 1837 and removed to Ohio, with their 
son, where both have since died. — William Gould 
settled on the farm where Daniel Sewall now lives, 
and where he died. He was appointed Adjutant in 
the Militia soon after it was organized on the Sandy 
River, and subsequently held the office of Brigadier 
General. He represented the town in the General 
Court of Massachusetts in 1822, and died at his res- 
idence some vears since. 



History of Fakmington. 29 

34. — Benjam in Weafhtrn. 

Ill 1783 Benjamin Weathern, from Nobleborough, 
made a beginning on the farm now owned by his son, 
of the same name. Here he subsequently made a 
settlement, and died of Cold Fever about 1814. 

35. — Reuben Loioell. 

Reuben Lowell, from Kingston, Mass., also settled 
about 1783 on the west side of the river, where Sam- 
uel Lowell now lives. He was a man of intelligence, 
and filled several responsible offices in the early set- 
tlement of the country. He died in C'hesterville. 

36.— Jesse BvUerfieJd. 

Jesse Butterfield, formerly of Dunstable, Mass., 
was also among the settlers of 1783. He settled 
on the farm adjoining Mr. Lowell's, where Nathan- 
iel Greenwood now lives. [Zina Greenwood.] Here 
he lived to the advanced age of ninety to enjoy the 
liberality of his country for the services he had ren- 
dered in the War of the Revolution. He died March 
7, 1842. 

3 7 . — Robert Goioer. 

Robert Gower moved his family from Topsham in 
1783. He was a native of England, and his wife was 
from Johnstown, R. I. He settled on the farm adjoin- 
ing Mr. Titcomb's, where he began to make improve- 
ments in 1776, and where he made a permanent set- 
tlement in 1782. He died Aug. 26, 1806, at the age 
of 84. His wife died in New Sharon, Jan. 15, 
1836, at the age of 91. 

38. — Joseph Greehj; Zacheus Maxjhew; Hartson Cony. 

In the course of the year 1783 Joseph and Seth 
Greely, with their father, moved to Farmington from 



30 History of Farmington. 

Winthrop. Joseph settled on the lot now owned 
by Mr. Stoyell and others, and on which a large por- 
tion of the Center Village is now situated. He pur- 
chased the possession of a Mr. Snow, who had made 
a temporary beginning. Mr. G. made considerable 
improvements, and built the first framed barn in the 
neighborhood in 17^8 He sold to Zacheus Mayhew, 
a native of Martha's Vineyard, about 1791. lie re- 
moved to Pond Town — now Belgrade — where he died 
some years since. Mr. Mayhew built a large house 
in 1792, and made considerable improvements, and 
soon after sold to Hartsbn Cony, a native of Easton, 
Mass., and commenced improvements on the fiirm 
now owned by Abraham Johnson. He subsequently 
removed to Nobleborough, where he died. Mr. C';)ny 
was naturally a business man, and was one of the first 
who became retailing merchants in Farmington. He 
afterwards sold to Ebenezer Sweet. He died iu Can- 
ada. 

S9.—Seth Greely. 

Seth Greely, with his father, settled on the farm 
now [1846] owned by Enoch C. Belcher and Hiram 
Belcher, and continu d to make improvements till 
1790, when he sold to Supply Belcher, and soon af- 
ter, with his father, removed to Phillips, where his 
father died. He removed in 1818, with his son Mo- 
ses Greely, to Ohio, his wife having died at Phillips. 
He has since died. 

40. — Supply Belcher. 

Mr. Belcher was a native of Stoughton, Mass. He 
removed to that part of Hallowell, now Augusta, from 
which place he removed his family to the farm be- 
fore owned by Mr. Greely, in the winter of 1791. — 
He acted as agent for the inhabitants of the then 
Plantation in procuring the act of incorporation in 
1794, and was the first Town Clerk, and afterwards 
one of the Selectmen. He represented the town in 



History of Farmington. 31 

the General Court of Massachusetts at different peri- 
ods. He early held a corrimission of Justice of the 
Peace, and was one of the principal acting magis- 
trates till near his death. He died in 1836, aged 84. 

41. — Simeon Iiu!<s. 

Simeon Russ, in the course of the year 1783, set- 
tled on the farm now owned by Samuel Stanley, whose 
family is said to have been the first that moved above 
Joseph Brown's. He subsequently removed to the 
farm now occupied by Joseph Riant, and afterwards 
to the upper lot in the town, now occupied by James 
Wellman, where he made some hnprovements, erect- 
ed temporary buildings, and after losing his wife, em- 
igrated to Canada. The farm on which Mr. Russ 
first settled passed into the hands of Jason U. Cony, 
where he made a settlement about 1794, and built 
the first mill in the upper part of the town, in con- 
nection with Robert Jones. 



42. — Joseph Sylvester; Benjamin Butler. 

Joseph Sylvester settled on the farm now owned 
by Thomas Hunter, sold to Benjamin Butler who was 
from Martha's Vineyard, in 1790, and commenced on 
the other side of the river. Mr. Butler conveyed to 
his son, from whom it passed into the hands of Mr. 
Hunter. Mr. Butler was a house joiner by trade, 
and took the lead in building most of the first dwell- 
ing houses on the river. He died in Avon. 

43 . — Joseph Holland. First Marriage. 

Joseph Holland made a settlement on the farm on 
which the upper part of the Center Village is situ- 
ated, about 1783. He built a temporary house near 
the intervale. It is said that the first marriage sol- 
emnized in Farmington was in this house, while it 



3*2 His'ioRY OF Fau^ungton. 

was without a floor. Joseph Battle and Eunice Ma- 
loou were joined in marriage by Dumraer Sewall, Esq.. 
of Bath. They were served with a good quarter of 
baked lamb, but had no knives excepting those they 
carried with them. 

Mr. Holland sold to John (/hurch in 1790, and re- 
moved to the other side of the river, and from there 
to No. 1, — now Temple, being one of the first settlers 
in that town. 

44. John Church 

Mr. Church moved his family from Augusta to 
Farmington in company with ^Ir. Belcher, in the 
winter of 1791. The winter before he had worked 
in company with Josiali Blake, at his trade, in Solo- 
mon Butterfield's old log house, on the western side 
of the river. Mr. Church with his family went into a 
log house which had been built by Mr, Holland, 
which was his second log house and stood on the 
hill, a few feet north of where the Church house now 
stands, The Old Church House was built by Mr. C. 
in 1793 or 1794. This was the first house on the 
rise where the village now is, the whole neighbor- 
hood being an unbroken forest excepting a small tract 
around this house. Mr. Church had caused a shop 
to be put up the season before, in which he com- 
menced business as a blacksmith, which business he 
continued to carry on in connection with farming. — 
Soon after he opened a public house, which was the 
first tavern in town. He removed to what is now Sa- 
lem, in connection with his son Samuel Church, and 
afterwards returned to his former residence. He was 
a native of Kiniston, Conn., and died March 12, 
1838, at the age of 85 years. His wife, whose 
maiden name Avas Susannah Cony, was from Easton, 
Mass., She died May 6, 18-14-, at the advanced age 
of eiofhtvreisrht vears. 



History of Fakmixgton, 33 

45 — Reuben Page—E. Sweet — 3Iicah Wialherti~B. Blackston. 

About nSo Reuben Page settled on the lot after- 
wards owned by Fbenezer Sweet. On this lot the 
southerly part of the Center Village is now located. 
Mr. Page early removed from the place, and little is 
known of his history. It appears by the Records 
that he had a daugliter born in the winter of 1783, 
the first female born in the town.— Mr. Sweet was 
from Attleborough, Mass., and succeeded Mr. Page 
some time previous to 17b4. He conmienced the first 
tannery in town in 1785. It was situated near the 
present site of the Congregationalist Meeting-house. 
He afterwards enlarged his farm by the purchase of 
the lot adjoining on the north. He died Nov. 4, 1835, 
at the age of i^G. His wife, Desire Sweet, died Dec. 
12, lb39, at the age of 95. Mr. and Mrs. Sweet 
were of industrious habits and attained a competen- 
cy of the conveniences of life by their own industry 
and economy. A "felled piece," about where the 
Congregational Meeting-house now stands, was first 
planted late in June by Mrs. Sweet, with a caseknife 
for the want of a more suitable instrument of hus- 
bandry. From the corn thus planted they gathered 
a plentiful harvest. This was one of their first helps. 
In 1781, or 82, Micah W'eathern visited the Sandy 
River region for the purpose of settlement. He com- 
menced on the lot now owned by Amasa Corbett, and 
soon after exchanged with Benj Blackston, and mov- 
ed to Middle Town — now Strong. jMr. Blackston 
dying, Lydia Blackston, his widow, became the own- 
er in the right of her iiusband, from whom it passed 
to Peter Corbett, who had settled on the lot joining it 
on the south. 

^ij—Ilcvhen Butlerfield. 

Reuben Butterfield came from Hunstable, Mass., 
while a single man, in 1781, with Samuel Butterfield, 
and made a temporary stay. He, however, returned 



•3-4 History of Far.mi^gton. 

to his native place, but after a stay of a year or two, 
he returned again to the Sandy River and recom- 
menced improvements or purchased a new possession 
of Abraham Page. Thi.^ was the farm now owned 
by Thomas Lewis and Alfred Bradford, ijand which 
soon after passed into the liands of Joseph Bradford. 
Mr. Buttertield then purchased of Moses Chandler, 
who had previously commenced on the farm where 
he now [1^46] resides, in the family of Geo. Wheeler, 
on the west side of the river. 

47 — Muae^- CJiandler. 

After selling his first lot to Mr. Butterfield, Mr. C. 
purchased the lot adjoining, now owned by his son, 
Moses Chandler. This he purchased of a Mr. Kinney, 
from liallowell, who had made some improvements. 
Mr. Kinney's crops having been injured by the frost 
he became discouraged and returned to his native 
place. Mr. Chandler was chosen Captain of the south 
company of Militia, when it was organized, and he 
was the second Colonel who commanded the regiment 
first ornanized on the Sandy Kiver. He represented 
the town in the General Court of Massachusetts in 
iy06. He died some twenty years since. His wife 
is still livinir. 



'&• 



48 — Joseph'- Bradford — Indian Cruelly — Wonder/id Escape. 

Joseph Bradford was from Meduncook, now Friend- 
ship, in this State. His wife, formerly Abigail Star- 
ling, with her twister Dorothy, — afterwards Mrs. Craig, 
— came from Triendship on horseback, but as they 
had one pf Mrs. B.'s children to transport they could 
only ride by turns, — the one riding taking charge of 
the child. The road then was only a spotted line 
bushed out. During the French and Indian War of 
1755 the parents of Mr. Bradibrd were uihumanly 



History of Fahmington. o5 

murdered by the Indians. They, with others equally 
enterprizinsf. had locpted themselves in what was then 
the new and thinly settled portion of the State known 
as Meduncook, and already had their labors been 
crowned with success. But the din of war, with its 
attendant perils, broke in upon their peaceful toils. 
A garrison was speedily erected and the various fami- 
lies removed there. Mr. B. residing but a short dis- 
tance from the fort, and directly in view from it, he 
did not deem it necessary to remove, supposing that 
if alarmed they could easily reach its protecting shel- 
ter. One morning while Mr. B. w^as engaged in 
pounding corn — a simple process of obtaining meal, 
a party of Indians was seen from the garrison to be 
approaching the house. An alarm gun was soon 
iired, but owing to the noise of the mortar it was not 
heard by the inmates, and the Savages were not per- 
ceived till they entered the dwelling. They immedi- 
ately dispatched Mr. and INIrs. B. A daughter of 
some twelve or fourteen years of age, who had sought 
a momentary concealment, sprung from under the 
bed, and caught the infant as it fell unharmed from 
the mother's arms, and fled through the open door for 
the garrison. The ladians pursued, but not being 
able to overtake her, threw a tomahawk, which in- 
flicted a deep wound in her side. But the heroic 
girl, clasping the babe more firmly with one hand, 
with the other prevented her intestines from falling 
to the ground, and in this situation she reached the 
garrison. She rf-covered from the wound and subse- 
quently married and removed to Vermont, where she 
became the mother of a family of children. The In- 
dians succeeded in capturing two of Mr. B.'s brothers, 
being young lads, and carried them to Canada. They 
were afterwards exchanged, but deceptively detained 
in the State of New York, but eventually reached 
home, after a lapse of some time, through a train of 
providential circumstances. 



36 History of Farmington. 

50 — Isaac Teague; Isaac Page; Samuel Keen; S. Bullen. 

Not long after 1782 Isaac Teague settled on the 
farm now owned by Francis and Peter P. Tufts, from 
whom it passed to Fr:-:nci& Tufts 2d, the father of 
the present occupants, in about 1790. — About the same 
time Isaac Page settled near the center of the town, 
on the lot afterwards owned by Jedediah Thomas and 
others, on the west side of the river. He left the town 
at an early day and little is known of his history. — 
Samuel Keen commenced a settlement on the farm 
now occupied by William Adams, prior to 1784, and 
Samuel Bnllen from Hallowell — who was one of the 
Associates — on the Case Farm, soon after. Mr. K. 
afterwards sold to Solomon Adams Esq., and went to 
Curvo — now Phillips — where he afterwards died. 

51 — Phillip Davenport; John Huston; John Amstm. 

Phillip Davenport settled about 1783, just below 
where Fairbanks' Bridge now stands, near Jones' Pock, 
on the Mill Lot. He soon left and was followed by 
Eobert Jones. John Huston, from Dunstable, Mass., 
removed from Sidney about this time, and settled on 
the farm now owned by Jeremiah and Ephraim S, 
Butler. He made his his first clearing on the inter- 
vale, where he erected a log house. He made a clear- 
ing on that part of his farm where the village at Back- 
us' Corner now stands, and where he built a log house 
in 1792. He died in 1794. His first wife was one 
of the Greely family. — John Austin removed from 
Brunswick in 1784, and settled on the west side of 
the river, opposite the center of the town. He was 
the first sexton in the town, in which capacity he 
served many years. He was a soldier in the French 
War of 1755, was at the taking of Quebec under Gen. 
Wolf, and also served as a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary War. Mrs. Austin was a native of Cape Ann, 
and Avas generally known to the first settlers on the 



History op^ Farmington. o7 

Sandy River as a doctress, in which capacity she ren- 
dered the inhabitants essential service for many years. 
There was no settled physician in this section of the 
country till about 1792. 

52— Jacob Eaton. 

Jacob Eaton removed his family from Bristol to 
Farmington in Oct. 1784. He settled on the farm 
now owned by Thomas M. Davis, the Greenwoods, 
and others, known as the Mill Lot. He purchased 
the mill built by Colburn & Pullen, with his broth- 
er — Joseph Eaton — who sold his half to Moses Star- 
ling, about two years after, and returned to his for- 
mer residence. Mr. Jacob Eaton attended to farming 
as well as to carrying on the mills, which were re- 
built and considerably improved by him and Mr. Star- 
ling. He erected framed buildings prior to 1790. 
In 1791 he went to the Province of New Brunswick, 
where he was drowned at St. John's Falls, Nov. 18, 
1791. Mr. Wilham Thorn, father of Mrs. Eaton,^ 
an elderly gentleman, who came with Mr. Eaton's 
family, died in the fall of 1786 — the second death in 
the town. Mr. Thorn was from Topsham, where he 
suffered severely in the French and Indian War of 
1755. He lost an arm and had a son scalped by the 
Indians. He was buried near the Center Bridge, in 
what is now called the Old Burying Ground. Mrs. 
Eaton died in 1804, at the age of 64. 

53 — Moses Slarling. 

Moses Starling came from Bristol to this town in 
Sept, 1786, and commenced on the farm now improv- 
ed by the widow of the late Lemuel Perham. His 
family remained in Bristol till 1788. He soon after 
purchased half of the mills formerly known as Star- 
ling's Mills, — of Joseph Eaton. He carried on the 
mills in connection with his farm. He was the most 
efficient carpenter in the place for some years. He 



38 History of Farmington. 

received a commission as Justice of the peace, in 
1790, which was the first held in town. He was also 
the Postmaster, and the hrst Town 'I'reasiirer. He died 
in Oct. 1809, aged 62. Mrs. S. died in 1814, aged 75. 

54 — Samuel SeicaU. 

About 1786 Samuel Sewall settled in Favmino^ton. 
He located himself where John Morrison now lives, 
at the lower extremity of the town. He commenced 
tanning on his place — being one of the first tanners 
in the town. He built the first mills at the place, 
about 1792. He built the house now occupied by 
Mr. Morrison some time previous to this date. Mr. 
Sewall became an acceptable preacher and sold to Mr. 
Morrison about 1805, after which he devoted him- 
self to the duties of the ministry in different places. 

55 — A7nos and EzeJcicl Page. . . . Ebenezer Norton. 

Amos Page, and Ezekiel Page, his father, settled in 
1786 on the farm now owned by George W., and 
Samuel B. Norton. They erected a temporary build- 
ing below the ridge, near the intervale. They sold 
to Ebenezer Norton Esq., who removed from Edgar- 
town, Mass., and built the house now owned by Geo. 
W. Norton, and a barn under the hill, in 1791. He 
was chosen Representative in 180-1-, and died the same 
year. 

56 — Thos. Eiscock; Benj. Whither; Ephraim and D. B. Cowan. 

Thomas Hiscock removed in 1787 from Uamaris- 
cotta and settled on the farm now owned by Hiram 
Hiscock and Caleb Butterfield, on the west side of 
the river. Here he resided many years, and on this 
farm he died. Mrs. Hiscock died in 1846. — Benj. 
Whittier, in this or the following year, removed from 
Readfield and settled on what is now called the Whit- 



li I S ; O R Y O F ¥ A K \l I N G TON. f3 }) 

tier Farm, on the west side of the river, and adjoin- 
ing Ciiesterville. He was from New Hampshire. — 
He died about 1^22. ™- Ephraim Cowan, formerly of 
Dunstable. Mass., removed with his family, from Au- 
gusta, in 1788, and settled on the lot now owned by 
l)r. Flint and others, with his son David B. Cowan. 
They were the first settlers in that neighborhood. Mr. 
Cowan was one of the Associates and had taken an 
active part in the purchase and settlement of the town, 
previously to his removal into it. He was the first 
Clerk of the Associates. He served as a soldier dur- 
ing most of the French War. He died June 9, 1'397. 
David B. Cowan made the first beginning on what is 
now called Cowan Hill in about 1800, where he 
moved five years after. He died in 1830. 

51^— Lemuel Perham; Eliplialet and Oliver Bailey; J.F. Woods. 

In March, 1788 Lemuel Perham 1st, Eliphalet Bai- 
ley, Oliver Bailey, and John F. Woods 1st, removed 
from Dunstable, Mass They brought their families 
and effects with ox teams, and arrived in Farmington 
the ord day of April, having been twenty-three days 
on the road. They were impeded by the want of snow 
in the first part of their journey, and in the latter 
part by the falling of the snow to an unusual depth. 
It was with great difficulty that they could make any 
progress on the road. The three former settled in 
the easterly part of the town, in the Bailey Hill 
neighborhood, they being the first settlers in that sec- 
tion of the town, excepting one Joseph Ralph, who 
had commenced on the farm now owned by Richard 
Parker, some few years before. Mr. Ralph occupied 
his lot alone till 1792 or 3, when he sold to Peter 
West, and removed to what is now Starks. Mr. W. 
sold to Zachariaii Norton, soon after, from whom it 
passed to William Parker Esq., who died about 1840, 
and left it to the present occupant. 



40 History of Farming; on, 

58 — Harlwell;E. Jennings: A. Smith.; S. S'moers; J. F. Woods. 

A Mr. Hartwell, Elipbalet Jennings, x\braham 
Smith and Samuc4 Stowers settled in the more east- 
erly part of the town soon after TiSH. Mr. Jennings 
and Mr. Smitlfarc still living not only to enjoy the 
fruits of their persevering industry in cultivating the 
wilderness, but the bounty of their country for their 
early services in the Revolutionary War, m the es- 
tablishment of our independence. Deacon Woods set- 
tled on the farm now owned by Nathaniel Woods, in 
the southerly part of the town. He was one of the 
first settlers in that section. He was one of the first 
to enter mto church relations in the town, from the 
date of which event, till his death, he filled the office 
of Deacon. He was for many years one of the 
Selectmen. He died in 1815, at the age of 62. 
His wife— Mary Woods— Survived till Oct. 1H44, 
when she died at the advanced age of 9d years. 

59 — Silas Gould, and OlJters 

Silas Gould — since known as Col. Gould — removed 
from Dunstable, Mass., and settled on the farm now 
owned by John A. Gould, in the westerly section of 
the town, in 1786. He was the first settler on a back 
lot. He purchased a right in what Avas then called 
Tyngtown — now Wilton — where he afterwards remov- 
ed to make the necessary settlement. Eli Brainard 

settled on the farm now owned by Leonard M. His- 
cock, at an early date. He left for the South soon 

after 1791. Ephraim Butterficld 1st, and 2d, Josi- 

ah and Jonas Green, Samuel Chandler, and Samuel 
Knowlton were among the early settlers in the same 

section of the town. John Rice settled about this 

time on the farm now owned by J. S. Ellis. He af- 
terwards sold to Jonathan Cushman, from the vicinity 
of New Bedford, ISlass. Mr. C. died in 1S34, at the 
use of 79. In 1789 Peter Gav. a iiative of Stoui2:h- 



History^ of Farmixgton, 41 

ton, Mass.. removed his family from Meduncook — now 
Friendship, and settled on the west side of the river, 
on the farm now owned by Benj. Button. His sons, 
Ehsha and Jabez, had worked in the place the pre- 
vious year. Mr. Gay was a blacksmith, and he car- 
ried on both farming and blacksmithing successfully. 
He built the first framed barn in that vicinity about 
1790. Elisha Gay soon after began to clear the farm 
now owned by Hiram Gay, where he made a perma- 
nent settlement, and where he died in lh42. at the 
age of 74. Samuel Briggs settled near the same 
time on the farm now owned by Peter R. Tufts He 
sold to Nathaniel Hearsey in 1796, and renioved to 
No 1, — now Temple — being one of the fiist settlers 
in that town. 

60 — Settlers on the ivest side of the Eiver. 

David Wentworth, Hugh Cox, Joseph Eiant, Adin 
Briggs, and Benj. Handy settled about 1789 on the 
front lots on the west side of the River. Mr. Cox put 
up the first framed house in the upper part of the 
town soon after. Leaving the place soon after, the 
house remained unfinished for a few years, after which 
it was fitted up by Isaac Powers, who made the first 
permanent settlement on the lot now owned by Sam'l 
York and others. 

6l—Ezelii.l Porter; Porter's Bill 

Ezekiel Porter and Gershom Collier were the first 
two who settled on what is now called Porter's Hill. 
Having previously made a small beginning on the 
farm now owned bv Rial Gleason, Mr. Porter remov- 
ed from Augusta, about 1790, and Mr. Collier settled 
the year following on the same tract, and afterwards 
on the farm now owned by Wm. Tuck. Zebulun True 
commenced immediately after, still farther north, and 
Jabez Gay on the farm on which he now lives, to 
the south. Col. Porter was a native of (rroton. Mass. 



42 History of FARMI^"GTON. 

He settled at Augusta in early life, and went into 
mercantile business, in ^Yhich he failed. After his re- 
moval to Farmington he entered largely into the bu- 
siness of farming, which he carried on, perhaps on a 
larger scale than has ever been sttempted by any one 
else in this section of the State. Beginning as he 
did, the business of clearing land was largely promi- ' 
nent in his operations. He entered into the business 
of retailing goods in 1803, first at his residence and 
afterwards at the Starling Village. He traded largely 
for a new place for several years. At the organiza- 
tion of the Militia he was chosen Captain, and soon 
after promoted to the command of the regiment. He 
was twice chosen Representative to the General Court 
of Mass., and he served several years as one of the 
Selectmen of the town. He left this State and went 
to New York, and settled near the city in 1812 or 13, 
where he died some years since. 

62 — Settlers in Holly Neighborhood ; Thos. Wendell. 

Joseph Battle made the first beginning in what is 
called the Holly Neighborhood, near where Thomas 
Wendell now lives, about 1790, or 91. He erected 
the first framed barn in 1793. He died about 1795. 
Wm. Allen from Martha's Vineyard, settled immedi- 
ately after Mr. Battle, in the same neighborhood, on 
what is called the Allen Place, and was soon follow- 
ed by John Holly 1st, Hugh Stewart and Jonathan 
Butler, from the same place. Thomas Wendell Esq. 
settled on the place where he now lives about 1794. 
Capt, Allen subsequently removed to what is now 
Industry, then Plymouth Patent. He was one of the 
first settlers in that place. Jamse Rowings settled 
farther back at a subsequent period. Mr. Wendell 
is the only survivor of the first settlers. Peter Nor- 
ton, from Edgartown, Mass., made the first beginning 
on the farm now owned by Joseph Titcomb, on the 
Industrv Road — in 1791. He put up a log house 



History of Farmington. 43 

and moved into it in the fall of that year — his being 
the first family on that road. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Betsey Beetle, died the winter followinpf. 
He soon after settled in New Portland, where he died. 

63 — Joseph Fairbanks. 

Joseph Fairbanks, from Winthrop, made the first 
chopping on the farm now owned by James 'Norton, 
in Jnne 1792, and Abram Smith, from Martha's Vine- 
yard, commenced on the Backns Farm, now owned by 
Capt. Wm. Cothren, the same season. Mr. Smith 
never made a permanent settlement, having been kil- 
led at sea, soon after, by a fall from the mast-head. 
Col. Fairbanks continned to make improvements, put 
UT-) the present buildings, and set out the first orchard 
in town. He subsequently sold to Timothy Smith, 
when he removed to the Eaton Farm, and from there 
to the upper part of the town, where he built the 
mills known as Fairbanks' Mills. He engaged in trad- 
ing and farming in connection with his mill and con- 
tinued to do a large amount of business till near his 
death. He was killed by a fall from his wagon, 
Sept. 12, 1831. Col. Fairbanks was a useful and en- 
terprizing citizen, held office in the Militia some fif- 
teen years, was for some time one of the Selectmen 
of the town, and he likewise represented the town in 
the General Court of Mass.- in 1819. In 1823 and 
1824 he was chosen senator from the Kennebec Sen- 
atorial District to the Legislature of this State. 

64— 6'c«fer,s in 1793 a«cZ 1794. 

Zacheus Mayhew made the first beginning on the 
farm now owned by Abraham Johnson in 1793, and 
Eufus Allen on the farm now owned by Dennis Al- 
len, in 1794, and Peter Norton about the same time 
on the north part of the same lot. John Tufts set- 
tled on the old Backus Farm a short time previous, 



44 HisioRY OF Far.mington. 

and Isaac Perkins and Otis Foster on the farm now 
owned by Uzziel Weeks and others. Mr. Perkins 
soon removed to 'the river at the upper part of the 
town. It is to him and Ruful Allen that we are 
mostly indebted for onr first and early start in orch- 
arding. They furnished most of the trees in town 
from nurseries of their own planting. In 1790, or 91 
many of the first settlers in the middle and upper 
sections of the town were disposed to sell and go back 
to still newer settlements. Others came in, among 
whom were Benj. Butler, Elvaton Parker, Peter West, 
Elijah Butler and Abiatha Green. 

— G^ Barter Trade — Exports. 

During this period most of the business was done 
by exchange of articles. Corn and grain at first, and 
afterwards neat stock, were the staple commodities 
produced by the farmers, and most of the paper tak- 
en was for specific articles of this character, at a 
stated market or cash price, as might be agreed upon. 
In 1791. Mr Brown received a silver dollar— -silver 
being the only money then in circulation — in payment 
for the labor of himself and team for a day, which 
he observed, was the first dollar he had received for 
the ten years he had lived in the place. At this pe- 
riod considerable quantities of corn and grain were 
hauled to Hallo well, the nearest market, and exchang- 
ed for such commodities as were needed by the in- 
habitauts; a trade which continued for many years, 
while the new lands were being cleared. Since this, 
grass seed, beef, store cattle, sheep and wool have 
become the chief articles of export. The potatoe 
crop has almost invariably been abundant, until affect- 
ed by the rot the last year, but the situation is too 
far in the interior to afford a profit by trans [)ortation 
to market. Should the potatoe rot cease, however, 
it is thought they will afford a profit to the produc- 
er by being manufactured into starch. From the sugar 



History of FAUMiNGrax 45 

maple considerable quantities of sugar and syrup have 
been produced, and were sufficient attention paid to 
the subject a liberal supply might be made for many 
of the inhabitants, and in many instances a surplus 
might be furnished. In 1791, being ten years from 
the first settlement, there were about 85 families in 
the town. 

66 — Quc-ilion of Propridorf^lnp Settled. 

Previous to the winter session of the General Court 
of Massachusetts for 1790. the boundary line between 
the Plymouth Company and the State Lands had been 
settled by agreement that the boundary of the former 
should begin at the mouth of the Wisserunset Stream, 
which empties into the Kennebec just below Skowhe- 
gan Falls, in Milburn, running from thence due north, 
three miles, thence west tvv^enty miles, thence south- 
erly to agree with the courses of the Kennebec. A 
survey having been taken by Samuel Titcomb, Esq., 
it was found that this town would fall without the 
Plymouth Claim. A meeting of the inhabitants was 
held at the house of Samuel Butterfield for the pur- 
pose of petitioning the General Court to obtain a title 
to their land. It was agreed to petition jointly, that 
the Colburn Associates who had settled on settler's 
lot should be used as they were to have been used 
under the Plymouth Company, and that the settlers 
on the proprietor's lots should be used as other set- 
tlers were on State lands. Samuel Butterfield and 
Benj. Whittier were chosen agents on the part of the 
proprietors of the settler's lots, and Francis Tufts on 
the part of the settlers on the lots reserved for the 
proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase, agreeably to 
the arrangement made with them by Reuben Colburn 
and his Associates. — This Committee attended the 
General Court at the winter session of l'i90, and ob- 
tained the following Resolve in favor of the inhabit- 
ants, and iirantino- the residue of the unsettled lands 



46 History of Farmington. 

to Dummer Sewall, Francis Tufts and Samuel But- 
teriield. 

CommoniveoMh of llast^sachiiseUs. 

In Sfnate, February 4th. 1790. 

Wliercas, tlie proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase, by their Committee, 
on the foTirtli day of October. 1779. under the apprehension that the tract 
now called tlie Sandy IJiver Lower Township, belonged to said proprietors, 
did enter into an agreement or contract respecting the land contained in said 
townshij). with Reuben CoUiurn and his Associates, wherein the said Associ- 
ates on their part agreed to survey and lay out said township, divide the 
parne into lots, mark the lots for settlers with the letter S.. and the lots to 
be reserved for said proprietors with the leiter P.. and return a plan thereof 
to the Clerk of said Proprietors, and within a certain time to settle said 
township, make improvements therein, clear roads. &e. : and in considera- 
tion thereof tlie said Cummittco. in ])eha]f of said Proprietors, on their part 
agreed that the said Eeul)en Colburn and his Associates, should hold all the 
lots in said township marked with the letter S.. in the said plan returned, a 
duplicate whereof accompanies this Resolve. 

And whereas it appears to this Court, that said Reiiben Colburn and his 
Associates have complied with the said agreement, on their part, and would 
have been entitled to the several lots in said township marked Avith the letter 
S., if the said township had really belonged to the said Proprietors. But 
whereas it now appears that the lands in said Township are the property of 
this Conmionwealth. and inasmuch as considerable advantage has resulted 
to said Commonwealth from the settlement of said Township by said Asso- 
ciates ; and in order that said Associates may not be disturbed in the posses- 
sion of their settlements : 

Therefore. Relolved. That there be. and hereby is. granted and confirmed 
unto the said Reuben and his Associates aforesaid, their heirs and assigns, 
all the lots in said plan marked with the letter S.. together wiih the Mill 
Lot in said Township, so called, as tenants in common, excepting such lots 
as have already been drawn to the Associates, which shall l)e held in sever- 
alty by each Associate, his heirs and assigns accordingly. 

And it is further Resolved. That there be. and hereby is granted and con- 
firmed to Dummer Sewall of Bath. Esq.. Francis Tufts and Samuel Butter- 
field, of Sandy River, aforesaid, yeomen, their heirs and assigns, all the 
rest and residue of said Township, on tlie folloAving conditions, and with 
the following reservations, viz. — That the said Dummer. Francis and Samu- 
el shall quit the settlers hereafter named, Avho settled in said Township be- 
fore the first day of January. 1784. viz. Benjamin Weathren, William Gould, 
Reuben Lowell. Jonathan Knowlton. "William Gower. John Austin. Simeon 
Euss, Jolin Huston, Enocli Craig. Joseph Sylvester. Joseph Holland. Eben- 
ezer Sweet. Abram Page. William White. Samuel Keen. Lydia Blackstone, 
Stephen Titcomb. Robert Gower. and Francis Tufts, by granting to each of 
them to hold in fee one hundred acres of land, to be so laid out as will best 
include his or her improvements, and be least injurious to the adjoining 
lands, upon the receipt of thirty shillings from such settler, to be jiaid by 
each within nine inontlis from tins date. And also shall quit the settlers 
hereafter named, who settled in saidTownship after the first day of January, 
1784, viz. — Josiah Blake, Sanmel Ames, Samuel Briggs, Joseph Riant, 
Hugh Cox, David Wentwortb. Joseph Bradford. Benjamin Hand}-. Isaac 
Powers. Abram I'age. Silas Gould. Samuel Chandler. Ephraim CoAven. Noah 
Billington. Susannah Davenport. Isaac Teague, Abram Smith. Joseph Ralph 
and Oliver Bailey, by granting to each of them to hold in fee. one hundred 
acres of land, to be so laid out as will best include his or her improvements 



H!STf)UY OF FaRMINGTON. 47 



and ])0 least injurious to tlic ad, joininir lands, upon tlie receipt of six pounds 
from each settler, to be paid within nine months from this date. Kcsorvinjr, 
however, four lots of three Inmdred and twenty acres each, for public uses. 
viz. — one for tb.e first settled minister, one for tlie use of the ministry, one 
for the use of schools in said Township, and one for the future appropriation 
of the General Court, to be laid out near the center of said Township, and 
to average in goodness with the other lots tlierein ; and on condition that the 
said Duramer Sewall, Francis Tufts, and Samuel Butterfield shall pay or give 
sufficient security to pay to the Committee on the subject of unappropriated 
lands in the Counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln, or to their succes- 
sors in office, for the use of the Commonwealth, the sum of four hundred 
pounds in specie, within the space of one year from tlie time of passing this 
Resolve, which Committee upon the receipt of said sum of four hundred 
pounds, or sufficient security therefor, are hereby empowered to make and 
execute a good and lawful deed to the said Dummer, Francis and Samuel, 
their heirs and assigns, of the land granted to them in this Resolve, on the 
conditions, and with the reservations therein contained. 

Sent down for concurrence. 

Thomas Daws, President pro tem. 
In the House of Representatives, February -1th, 1790. 

Read and concurred. David Cobb, Speaker. 

A True Copy, Attest, John Avery, Jun., Secretary. 



The aforesaid Sewall, Tufts, and Butterfield gave 
security to the ""satisfaction of the Committee and re- 
ceived a Deed before they returned home. Although 
the purchase of the town was not entirely to the sat- 
isfaction of the inhabitants, yet they complied with 
the provisions of the Resolve, and received titles to 
their lands agreeably to the conditions therein speci- 
fied. 

67 — Town Incorporated. 

From this time till 1794, when the town was in- 
corporated the settlers had no particular mode of trans- 
acting public business. They were never organized 
as a Plantation, but proceeded in regard to roads, 
schools, &c. as individuals were disposed to associate. 
In the latter part of 1793, the inhabitants at a meet- 
ing held for that purpose, agreed to petition to be 
incorporated agreeably to the original survey of the 
town; and Supply Belcher Esq., was agreed upon to 
attend the General Court at its next session, with the 
Petition, which was signed by most of the inhabitants. 
He accordingly attended, and obtained un act of in- 



48 HisTi RY OF Farming TON. 

corporation, wliicli was signed bj' Samuel Adams, 
then Lieutenant Governor and Acting Governor of 
Massachusetts, on the 1st day of February, 1794, in- 
corporating the Plantation of Sandy River, with the 
inhabitants thereof, into a town by the name of Farm- 
ington. The name was given to the town by Col. 
Porter, by the consent of the inhabitants. The Act 
thus bounds the town: — 

68 — Boundariea. 

'•Beginning at a maple tree marked, on the east- 
erly side of the Sandy River, and near the same, at 
the south-east corner of said Plantation, thence run- 
ning north eight miles and fifty-six rods to a beech 
tree marked; thence west five miles and two hundred 
rods to a bass tree marked, thence south two miles, 
thence south thirteen degrees east three miles, thence 
south thirty-five degrees east two miles one hundred 
and fourteen rods to a hemlock tree marked, thence 
north sixty-seven degrees east one mile one hundred 
and ninety rods to the junction of the Little Norridge- 
wock with the Wilson Stream to a birch tree mark- 
ed K. 15 M. 17^0, thence north forty-nine degrees 
east one mile and ninety rods to the Sandy River, 
thence down the Sandy River to the first mentioned 
bound — estimated to contain 27,000 acres." 

The last course has been so altered as to make the 
Wilson Stream the line, which varies but little from 
the former course. The beech tree marked, first men- 
tioned, stands a few feet from the original corner 
made by North in 1780, for the corner of the Plym- 
outh Claim, marked K. 15 M. on a small birch tree, 
denoting 15 miles from the Kennebec River. Stone 
monuments have since been erected at the several 
corners and angles of the town, and in most cases on 
the roads. 



History of Farmingtox. 49 

G9 — Organizaiioii. 

By the Act of Incorporation AVm. Reed Esq of 
Middle Town — now Strong — was authorized to call 
the first meeting of the inhabitants for the choice of 
such town officers as towns are required to choose in 
the month of March or April annually, by directing a 
warrant to some one of the principal inhabitants of 
the Plantation for that purpose. On the 15th of 
March a warrant was issued by Mr Reed to Moses 
Starling Esq., requiring him to notify the inhabitants 
to meet at the dwelling house of Thomas Flint — now 
Wm. Marvel's — in said town, on Monday the 7th day 
of April, 1794, at 10 o'clock, A. M., for the choice 
of Town, County, and State officers. The meeting 
was organized by the choice of Solomon Adams for 
Moderator, and Supply Belcher for Town Clerk. Pe- 
ter Corbett, Ezekiel Porter, and Enoch Craig were 
chosen Selectmen ; Moses Starling, Treasurer, and 
Benj. Whittier, Constable and Collector. 

7 — llepresentatixes. 

Farmington was represented in the General Court 
for the first time, in 1798, by Supply Belcher Esq. 
In 1799 the town was represented by Col. Ezekiel 
Porter, and in 1800 by Stephen Titcomb Esq. In 
1809 the town being entitled to two Representatives, 
Supply Belcher Esq. and Nathan Cutler Esq. were 
elected. Joseph Fairbanks and Josiah Prescott rep- 
resented the town in the Convention which met at 
Brunswick in 1816 for the purpose of forming a Con- 
stitution, had the requisite number of votes been giv- 
en in favor of separation from Massachusetts. Nathan 
Cutler and Jabez Gay were elected delegates to the 
Convention which met in Portland on the '2nd Mon- 
day in Oct. 1819, for the purpose of forming a Con- 
stitution for the State of Maine. In IS'iO Jabez Gay 
represented the town in the first Ivesfislatur^ of {his 
State. 



50 History of Farmington. 

Yl' — Roads. 

The first County Road was laid out from Hallow- 
ell, through Chesterville, to the Old Fordway, just 
above the Center Bridge, and afterwards continued on 
the west side of the river to Strong. Tlie County 
Road was laid out on the east side of the river by 
Dr. Hubbard, and others, in 1793. It was located 
near the intervale and some parts of the location were 
altered by the town before it was opened. Subse- 
quently the town altered the location of other parts 
of the route, but the whole has been since established 
by the County Commissioners, and the road has 
been continued across the Fairbanks Brido;e. The 
principal Town Roads were laid out and established 
in 179i and 1795. Others have since been laid out 
as occasion has required. The Temple Road was first 
laid out by the Town in 1802, and afterwards estab- 
lished as a County Road. Various alterations have 
been made in the old ones, and several new County 
Roads have been made from time to time as circum- 
stances seemed to require, the most of which have 
proved to be advantageous. / 

72 — 3Iails. 

The mail was first brought from Hallowell to Farm- 
ington about 1793, by Zacheus Mayhew. Moses 
Starling was appointed the first Postmaster. A Mr. 
Willis had brought newspapers, &c. a short time pre- 
vious. The mail was carried on horseback till 1829, 
when the means of conveyance was increased by a 
contract with Moses Hanscom, to a two horse team. 
By this contract the mail was to be carried under cov- 
er, and continued twice a week till 18-11. In 1841 
the establishment was increased to a four horse team, 
with post coaches to Farmington, and from thence to 
Phillips with two horses. This line is now owned by 
F. V. Stewart, who employs some 2i horses, and it 
is one of the best managed routes in the State. The 



History of Farmington. 51 

mail route from Farmington direct to Portland was 
established about 1830 — was purchased in 1834 by F. 
V. Stewart, and in 1838 passed into the hands of 
Thomas Beede, the present owner. This employs a 
two horse team to Minot where it connects with the 
Hallowell and Augusta line. This furnishes a quick 
and expedicious conveyance west, by land, and the 
route is Avell managed. 13eside those already mention- 
ed there is a cross mail, carried by one horse, passing 
from Anson, through Farmington, to Wilton. 

IS— First Mills ; Starling's Mills. 

The first mill in Farmington, as has been stated, 
was built by Colburn and Fullen, where the Titcomb 
Mills now stand. The Sawmill was set in operation 
in Nov. 1781, and the Gristmill in Aug. 1782. These 
mills were injured by the great freshet in 1785, on 
which account, and on account of the scarcity of wa- 
ter, — the dam being defective, as is common in new 
establishments in new countries, — the inhabitants suf- 
fered greatly for the want of facilities for procuring 
grinding, and were compelled to go to Winthrop to 
mill, a part of the time, for some years, and frequently 
with handsleds. To remedy this hardship many of 
them prepared mortars with a spring-pole to raise the 
pestle, by the help of which they made tolerable 
meal. This was the only mill for something like 
seven or eight years. It was rebuilt by Jacob Eaton 
and Moses Starling in 1790, and some time after 
again rebuilt by Mr. Starling, and more recently by 
Capt. Davis, and again by Butterfield & Witham in 
1836. The first run of stones that was put into this 
mill was hauled from Winthrop in the winter of 
1781. It has now four runs of stones, one of them 
Burr stones, with a superior cleanser, and the mill 
does a good business. The Sawmill was rebuilt at 
the same time with the Gristmill, both being greatly 
improved. [Now Walton's Mills.] 



52 History of Faumington, 

74 — Mills af Farming/oil FaH.~<. 

The next Mills were built, by Francis Tufts, at the 
Falls, on the main river, at the lower end of the 
town, about 1788. About 1790 one half was sold to 
Ebenezer Jones, and the remaining half soon after to 
.Jonathan Knowlton. Jonathan Russ purchased these 
mills in 1803. The dam having been carried away, 
he rebuilt it the same season, and rebuilt the mills 
in 1804. These mills were burned on the 29th of 
January, ISlo, and rebuilt by John and Henry Russ 
immediately after. They v/ere carried away by the 
great freshet in Oct. 1820, and again rebuilt by the 
same individuals. These mills once suffered some 
embarrasraent for the want of water, occasioned by 
the owners not having the control of the opposite 
bank, which has been remedied by the erection of 
mills on the Chesterville side. This water privilege 
would be one of the best in the vicinity were it not 
for great risk in freshets, occasioned by the water 
being confined to a narrow channel. Ebenezer Jones 
built a Sawmill and a Gristmill at the foot of these 
Falls, about 1802. The Gristmill was carried away 
by the water in 1814, and the Sawmill in 1820. The 
mills were supplied with water by a canal from the 
dam at the head of the Fall. David Dwinnel erected 
a shop on the canal which conveyed the water to the 
lower mills, with a trip hammer, which was carried 
away at the same time with the mill. John Russ hav- 
ing purchased the site where the Fulling Mill and 
Carding Machine formerly stood, erected a Sawmill, 
which was burned soon after, and another put in op- 
eration by Thomas Chase. 

75— /w;///i'.s- Mill-<. 

The mills commonly known as Morrison's or Keith's 
Mills were first built by Samuel Sewall, about 1792. 
They were sold by Mr. Sewall about 1796, and pas- 



History of Farmington. 53 

sed into the hands of Edw;ird Lock. Not much at- 
tention was bestowed upon them for some years after. 
The Sawmill on the Farmington side of the Wilson 
Stream was rebuilt by John Morrisan and others. — 
The Gristmill is now on the Chesterville side, the line 
passing between that and the Sawmill. It is owned 
by Mr. Davis, by Avhom it was rebuilt, and it has a 
liberal business. Here is also a Fulling Mill and 
Carding Machine on the Chesterville side, owned by 
Joseph Keith, which has been for many years one 
of the best establishments in this section of the State. 

16— Fairbank's Milk. 

The Mills at the upper end of Farmington, knowr 
as Fairbank's Mills, were first built by Jason D. Co- 
ny, in 1 794, and were owned by him and Robert Jones, 
who owned the privilege. They were situated where 
Mr. Townsend's Bark Mill now stands, in connection 
with which a Sawmill was afterwards erected. They 
passed into the hands of Hartson Cony, about 1797 
or 98, who commenced digging the canal where the 
Mills now stand. He put up a Sawmill frame, near 
the site of the present Sawmill, which was carried 
away by the freshet in June, 1799. He sold to John 
Patterson, who fitted them up. In the winter of 1801 
they were burned. The privilege and remains of the 
mills were purchased by Joseph Fairbanks, and the 
mills were rebuilt the same season. Col. Fairbanks 
completed the canal commenced by Mr. Cony, and 
built a Gristmill where the present one stands, in 
1807; and afterwards the Sawmill at the same place. 
May 14, 1814, the dam was mostly carried away by 
the freshet, which was attended with considerable loss 
to the owner, in the mills as well as in his store, 
which was then connected with the mills. In 1820 
the Mills were rebuilt by Col. Fairbanks, and greatly 
improved. At this time he introduced a cleanser, 



54 History of FARMI^■GTON. 

which was the first put in operation in the vicinity. 
These mills are now owned by Hiram Belcher and Lu- 
ther Townsend, who rebuilt them in 1841. with four 
runs of stones, one of which was shifted, the last sea- 
son, for a set of Burr stones, accompnnied with a su- 
perior bolt. It will now rank with the first in this 
section of the State . Its superior location gives it an 
advantage over many others, and helps to compen- 
sate for a lack of water to which it is exposed in se- 
vere drouths. The Sawmill is now owned by Mr. 
Belcher and does a good business. 



77 — EusseVs Mill; Lumber in Farminglon. 

!n 1825 a Sawmill was put in operation by Na- 
thaniel Kussell, in the westerly part of the town, on 
what is called the Starling, or Davis Mill Stream. 
At his death, in 1827, it passed into the hands of his 
son Isaac Russell, who has run it to good advantage 
most of the time since. It is now owned by the 
Messrs. Butterfield. It was taken down the last sea- 
son, and the dam was carried away by the freshet in 
the fall of the same year. It is expected that it will 
be rebuilt. This mill can be well supplied with va- 
rious kinds of lumber, such as hemlock and spruce, 
and some pine, and with various kinds of hard wood, 
as is the case with other mills in the town. Pine tim- 
ber is scarce in every section, but the mills at the 
lower part of the town procure a considerable amount 
of pine timber from Chesterville, to which town we 
are mostly indebted for our pine lumber. Perhaps 
this deficiency is more than compensated by the su- 
perior quality of the soil which renders the inhabit- 
ants more independent than they could have been 
rendered by application to the lumbering business. — 
Perhaps it may be said with propriety that there is 
scarcely a lot of land in the town that will not admit 



History of Farmington. 55 

of settlement, or on which a man, with industry and 
economy, might not maintain a family and lay up 
property. 

IS— Fulling Jlills. 

The first Fullinsj Mill was built bv Wra. Allen in 
1792, or 1793, on what is called the Allen Brook, 
in the north-east part of the town. The stream not 
bein<^ sufficient to answer his purpose he removed his 
works to the Falls, on the main river, where he fitted 
up a temporary mill in connection with one at that 
time owned by Jones and Knowlton. Mr. Knowlton 
soon after put up a Fulling Mill, which was carried 
on by Jeremiah Stinchfield and a Mr. Stanley, in 1797 
and 8. In 1799 it was purchased by Mr. Stinchfield, 
and by him rebuilt. It was carried away by the great 
freshet of 1820, with the cloth and apparatus. It 
was again rebuilt by Mr. Stinchfield, and enlarged and 
finished in a superior style. This was the only es- 
tablishment of the kind on the Sandy River or any of 
its waters for many years, and it had an unusual run 
of business. After Mr. Stinchfield's death, in 1824, 
the business declined, other .i:ills having been erect- 
ed. It was afterwards purchased by John Russ and 
used for the manufacture of hat bodies, and at length 
removed by him to give place to a Sawmill. The 
Carding Machine at the Falls was first built by Blake 
& Morrill, in about 1800. It was pauchased by John 
Shaw, in 1804, and for some time owned by him and 
bis brother Ebenezer Shaw, in whose hands it was 
once partly burned. It was afterwards purchased by 
David Morrill. It was carried away by the water in 
1820, and again rebuilt by Mr. M. He afterwards 
removed the machinery to the Chesterville side of the 
river, where it continues to run. In 1810 a F^uUing 
Mill was put in operation on the F'airbanks Mill 
Stream, by Enoch Wood and Luke Perkins of Win- 



56 ' History of FAiiMiXGTON. 

throp, which wns, in connection with a (.'arding Ma- 
chine, owned by John and Eben. Shaw of this town. 
They had a good run of business for some years, and 
passed through various hands, when the building be- 
came decayed. They were never rebuilt. Samuel 
Emery carried on the Fulling IMill, and Daniel Davis 
the Carding Machine most of the time. 

19— Meet in f/ Houses at the Falls. 

The first Meeting House was built at the Falls by 
the Methodist Society in about IbOO. The upper sto- 
ry was never finished. Jonathan Knowlton and Ste- 
phen Titcomb were among those who took the most 
active part in the erection of the house. It was suf- 
fered to go to decay and by degrees became useless. 
It has recently been taken down. — The new Meeting 
House was raised in 1826 and finished the year fol- 
lowing. It is owned by the different religious socie- 
ties, and is free to all nnder certain regulations, viz: 
that no religious society shall be excluded, but any 
one may occupy it on posting up a written notice on 
the door of the house at any time within four weeks 
of the appointment when there is no prior appoint- 
ment. But no one society is to occupy it more than 
one Sabbath in four to the exclusion of others. 

80. — First Meeting House at the Gen'cr. 

The first Meeting House at the Center was raised 
in June, 1803, and finished soon after, with the ex- 
ception of the gallery pews, which were not complet- 
ed for some years. The house was built by a volun- 
tary Association of individuals of difierent societies, 
who chose David Moors their Treasurer. The site on 
which the house stands was given to the Society by 
Mr. John Church 1st, in 1802 — except the Burying 
Ground for which fifteen dollars was paid. This site 
contains two acres of land, embracing the Common 
and Burying Ground, and was deeded by jNIr. Church 



History of Farmington, 57 

to Mr. Moors as Treasurer of the Society and his suc- 
cessors in that office, July 13, 1802. The house was 
built by selling the pews to the highest bidders, who 
gave their confessions to the Treasurer, to be paid 
in assessments to be made by the Treasurer as the 
money should be needed to meet the contracts made 
by the society, which were made by a majority of the 
whole at their meetings. The house and land cost 
about two thirds of what the pews sold for, exclusive 
of the gallery pews, the sale of which paid for fin- 
ishing them. The remaining third was never paid in. 
The Society obtained an Act of Incorporation, which 
was passed Feb. 6, 1822, for the purpose of confirm- 
ing their title, and for the better management of their 
affairs. The steeple was erected in l'^27, by volun- 
tary subscription, the porches at each end, with which 
it was originally built, being then removed. The 
house was occui)ied by the different religious societies 
in proportion to their respective interests, as regulated 
by the By Laws of the Society, for many years. In 
1838 the several societies having built separate houses, 
the old house ceased to be occupied, and it became 
nearly useless, excepting for town meetings, for which 
it has usually been occupied. At this date the County 
of Franklin was organized, and it was proposed to 
transfer certain privileges in the house to the County. 
Some doubt being entertained whether the society had 
a right to appropriate the house to any other purpose 
than for a house for religious worship, Mr. J. Church 
was induced to execute a deed of Quit Claim, on the 
28th of February, 1838, to the Society, of the whole 
site, for public buildings, while it might be used for 
a Court House, Town House, or Meeting House. — 
The Common on the west side of the road was to re- 
main and be used as a Common, and the Burying 
Ground to remain for the same purpose to which it 
had been appropriated. In consideration of this deed 
and of Mr. Church's former liberality, the Society paid 
his widow two hundred dollars. On the 27th dav of 



58 History of Farmington. 

June, 1839, the Society deeded to the County of 
FrankUn, the house, with the site on which it stands, 
extending from the road to the Burying Ground, re- 
serving a passway through the lot to the Burying 
Ground, and the use of the lower floor for town or 
other meetings while the present house may remain, 
the County to have the right to fit up and improve 
the upper story for a Court House, at their discretion, 
or to take down the present house, and rebuild at their 
pleasure, their title to cease whenever a Court House 
shall be built on any other site. 

81 — I^'rick Meetmg House, North Farmington. 

In the fall of 1830 a number of individuals were 
organized into a Society for the purpose of building 
a Meeting House to accommodate the north and west- 
erly part of the town, known as the Farmington 
North Meeting House Society. The season follow- 
ing tlie Society built what is more commonly called 
the Brick Meeting Flouse. It is located near the Up- 
per Bridge. The cost, which was about v^l4()0, was 
defrayed by the sale of the pews. The dimensions 
of the house are 40 by 50 feet, and it contains 62 
pews and a singing gallery, By the Constitution of 
this Society the different Religious Societies owning, 
have a right to occupy in proportion to the number 
of pews by them respectively owned. The house was 
mostly built by the Methodist Society, who have sup- 
plied preaching as far as it has been occupied. The 
Freewill .Baptists, who own the residue, having built a 
house soon after at the Center Village, are better ac- 
conmiodated there. The Methodist Society having since 
become divided, the house is now occupied alternate- 
ly by the Episcopal and Wesleyan Methodists. 

82 — Freeifill Baptist Meeting House. 

The Freewill Baptist Meeting House at the Center 
Village was built in 1835. at an expense of ^1250, 



History of Farmington. 59 

including the cost of the lot. The sum was raised 
by the sale of the pews. It is built of brick in the 
present style of building. Its dimensions are 36 by 
43 feet, and it contains 43 pews. 

•S3 — Bajjiist 3Ieeting House. 

The Baptist Meeting House is situated at the Cen- 
ter Village. It was commenced in 1835, and com- 
pleted in the year following. It is a brick house, 
4'2 1-2 by 68 feet, and contains 6*2 pews, with a vest- 
ry on the same floor, which serves as an entry to the 
body of the house, and to communicate with the 
gallery. The gallery is very pleasant, the building 
being of an extra hight. It is supplied with an organ 
at a cost of ^250, The structure of the house is 
good. It has a belfry but no bell. The cost of the 
house was about ^5000, which was raised by the sale 
of the pews, with the exception of $600 which was 
appropriated from the funds of the society, and per- 
haps i^200 by voluntary subscription or donation. — 
It has a commanding prospect, and with the Acade- 
my, which is on the same eminence, adds much to 
the appearance of the village. 

84. — Congregafional Meeting Mouse. 

The Congregational Meeting House at the Center 
Village was erected in 1836. The house is of brick, 
42 by 54 feet. It is a neat and convenient house, 
but small for the congregation usually attending the 
meetings held there. The original cost, including the 
lot. was about $3000, which was mostly paid from 
the sale of the peAvs. It has a belfry and is furnish- 
ed with a bell, the purchase of which was made by 
voluntary subscription, in which Jacob Abbott Esq. 
was a liberal donor. 



6*^ History of Farmington. 

Arrangements have been made to enlarge this house 
the present season [1846] by an addition of 15 feet, 
which will add 20 pews, making the whole number 
of pews 76. The expense is estimated at 3800, ^200 
of which will be required for repairs and alterations 
in the present house. This will make the entire cost 
of the building about ^3500. The house is furnished 
with a number of sheds for the reception of carriages. 

Hi)— Academy. 

Farmius;ton Academy was incorporated Feb. 1:^, 
1807. The following persons constituted the Board of 
Trustees by the Charter; 

Dea. Church Brainard Benjamin Abbott Esq of Temple 

Nathan Cutler Esq. Ebeuezer Biton Esq oj ^^ J ton 

Mr Thomas Hiscock Thomas FiUebrown of Hallowell 

Ezekiel Porter Esq. Dr. Thomas Flint of New \meyard 

Ur Timothv Smith John Hovey Esq. of Mount Vernon 

Dr.' Ebenezer Taylor Wm. Read Esq. of Strong, and 

Stephen Titcomb Esq. Rev. .Jotham Sewall of ChesterviUe. 
Thomas Wendell Esq. all of Farmington 

The Charter provides that the number of Trustees 
shall never be less than nine, nor more than fifteen, 
five of whom at least shall be necessary to constitute 
a quorum. It allows the Trustees to hold real estate 
the income of which shall not exceed >§)3000 annually. 
The first meeting of the Trustees under the Charter 
was held April 14, 1807, and organized by the choice 
of Wm. Read Esq. as President, Nathan Cutler, Sec- 
retary, and Church Brainard, Treasurer. The Trus- 
■ tees had no funds except the voluntary subscriptions 
of individuals. Relying on these they proceeded^ to 
erect the frame of the present building in the Fall 
of 1808, which, in the succeeding three years was so 
far com])leted that instruction was commenced in it 
the first of Jan. 18Fi, by Mr. James Hall, at a salary 
of $400 for one year. Since this date the school has 
continued in operation most of the time. By a Re- 
solve of the Legislature of Massachusetts, passed Feb. 
17 1812, a grant was made of one half of a town- 



History of Farmimgton. 61 

ship of land, six miles square, to the Trustees, to be 
selected from any of the unappropriated lands belong- 
ing to the State; and the Land Agent was authorized 
to lay out the same, subject to the usual reservations. 
In 1822 the Trustees received a conveyance of the 
south half of Township No. 5, in the 5th Kange 
west of thr Bingham Kennebec Purchase, in th^ 
County of Oxford, containing 11.520 acres, subject to 
a reservation of 480 acres, 'ilie creditors of the in- 
stitution, by an agreement took the amount of their 
respective clnims in land in the township, at the ap- 
praisal of the Surveyor, who valued it at 35 cents an 
acre on an average. The residue of the land was 
sold at auction for from 24 to 30 cents an acre. The 
amount added to the funds of the institution by the 
sale of the land was small. The whole amount of 
the funds, at the present time, exclusive of the build- 
ing and lot, is not far from ^1500. This institution 
has suffered considerably from the embarrassed state 
of its funds, owing to a considerable loss in the sub- 
scription raised for its encouragement, and being un- 
fortunate in the selection of the land appropriated by 
the State It is now furnished with an extensive Phi- 
losophical Apparatus, and retains a very respectable 
standing as a literary institution. For its standing it 
is much indebted to its superior location, the prudent 
and economical management of the Trustees and the 
superior talent and untiring exertion of the Preceptor. 
The records do not show the names of all who have 
been employed at different times as Teachers. The 
following names and dates appear: — 

36 — Teachers of Farmtngion Academy. 

James Hall, from 1812 to 1814 

Otis Briggs 1814 to 1815 

N. G. Howard 1816 

Joseph Caldwell 1817 to 1818 

Moses S. Moody 1818 to 1819 

Wm. A. Drew 1820 to 

Nathaniel Green 1823 to 1830 
David Yforoester 



62 History of Farmington. 



M. Upham 

John J. Butler 1887 to 1839 

0. B. Cheney 1839 to 1841 

Alexander H.Abbottl841 to present time [1846] 

[Jonas Burnaam followed JMr. Abbott, to whom Mr. A. P. 

Kelsey succeeded, after which the Academy was merged 

into the Normal School. 



87 — Trnsfeea of Forviwr/(on Academy. 

The following statement shows the names of the Trustees, the date of their 
appointment, when their places were vacated, and how they were vacated: 

Constituted by Charter, 1807; Church Brainard, Resigned 1828 
Nathau Cutler 

Thomas Hiscock, Resigned 1814 
Ezekiel Poi'ter, Absence 1814 
Timothy Smith. Died 1818 
Ebenezer Taylor, By vote 1808 
Stephen Titcomb, Resigned 1811 
Thomas AVendell, 

Benjamin Abbott, Resigned 1816 
Ebenezer Eaton, Died 1838 
Thomas FUebrown, Resigned 1821 
Thomas Flint, Age 1845 
John Hovey, Resigned 
William Read Died 
Jotham Sewall, Resigned 1837 



Appointed, Joseph S. Smith 1808, A^acated by Absence 

Thomas Johnson Jr. Appointed 1811, Vacated 1828 by Vote 

Oliver Bailey, 1814 Died 

Josiah Prescott, 1815 

Sylvester Srickland, 1817 Resigned 

Wm. Gould, 1818 Died 

Joseph Fairbanks, 1821 Died 

Isaac Rogers, 1827, Resigned 1833 
John Corbett, 1823 Resigned 1845 
Isaac Tyler, 1828, 
James Butterficld, 1828 Resigned 1845 

John Read, 1828, Died 

Robert Goodenow, 1882 
Asa Abbot, 1832 

John Russ, 1832 Died 

Charles Morse, 1835 Died 1845 
Ebenezer Childs, 1835 

Jacob Abbott, Resigned 1845 

Lafayette Perkins, 1845 

Holmes A. Boardman, 1845 Died 1846 

Moses Sherburne, 1845 

George Gage, 1845 

AVilliam Cothren, 1845 

John L. Cutler, 1845 

Samuel Belcher, 1845 



History of Farmhsgton. 63 

88 — Abbott Family School as it was in 1846. 

There is also in the village a Family School for 
boys, which was established by Rev. Samuel P. Ab- 
bott in 1844. The situation of the house and grounds 
is very favorable for the health of the pupils, and 
for their progress in study, being quiet and retired, 
and affording every opportunity for healthy recreation. 
The terms are ^150 per year of 46 weeks. This in- 
cludes every charge' excepting for traveling expenses, 
clothing, postage bills, classical books, medical attend- 
ance in case of sickness, and any incidental expens- 
es which may be incurred at the request, or by the 
]iermission of parents. Pnpils are received at any 
time, and are charged in proportion to the time of 
ti;eir connection with the school. No deduction is 
made for absence of less than one week. Payments 
are made quarterly, and in advance when convenient. 
The only regular vacation commences on the first 
Monday in May, and continues six weeks. Mr. Ab- 
bott endeavors to exert over his pupils, the govern- 
ment of a Christian parent, and he expects them to 
be under his entire direction and control, except as 
he receives specific directions from those who entrust 
them to his care. The present number of pupils is 
seventeen. 

Hd— Public Funds. 

In 1811, agreeably to a petition of the town, Oliver 
Bailey, Elijah Norton, Nathan Cutler and Timothy 
Johnson were incorporated into a body politic, by the 
name of the Trustees of the Earmington Ministerial 
and School Funds, with power to sell and convey the 
ministerial and school lands belonging to the town, 
and to put at use the moneys arising from the sale 
of the same, as soon as might be ; the interest aris- 
ing from the money due for the ministerial lands to 
be annually a"[>propriated to the support of the gospel 



64 History of Fakmington. 



ministry in said town, in the same Avay and manner 
as the income and profits of said ministerial land 
would by law be appropriated if this law had not been 
passed. And the interest arising on the money due 
for school lands, to be annually appropriated for the 
use of the public free schools in the town, it never 
being in the power of the Trustees or Town to alter 
or alienate the appropriation of the funds aforesaid. 
This Act passed Feb. 5, is 11. -At the fir<t meeting 
of the Trustees Oliver Bailey was chosen President 
of the Board, Xathan Cutler. Treasurer, and Timothy 
Johnson, Clerk. The Board was then filled up by 
the choice of Moses Chandler. Jabez Gay, and Jesse 
Gould, making seven in the whole, any four of whom 
were to form a quorum for doing business, agreeably 
to the act of incorporation. The whole of the lands 
have been sold at different periods. The total amount 
of sales amounted to, — Ministerial Fund ^i297,b», 
interest, $77,^7. — School Fund 81449, '25, interest, 
:^S6,95. The income arising from the School Fund 
has been annually applied to the support of free 
schools in the town, agreeably to the original design 
of the appropriation made by the State. In 18'24: 
the land reserved for the first settled minister was 
sold bv the board of town officers, agreeably to the 
direction of the town ; an Act having been passed by 
the Legislature of the State on the i2th day of Feb. 
1824, making them a body corporate for that pur- 
pose, and declaring the lands vested in the inhabit- 
ants, where trustees had not already been appointed, 
and the lands become otherwise vested. The lands 
were sold, and the securities received amounted to 
^1368.08, bearing date the i5th day of May, 1824. 
By the provisions of the act the interest accruing 
from this fund was to be added to the principal an- 
nually, and the whole kept at interest for the original 
purpose. This fund was kept at interest and manag- 
ed according to the foregoing regulations till Sept. 10, 



History of Farmington. 65 

1832. The interest arising on the former fund raised 
from the land reserved for the use of the ministry, 
having been divided b> the town equally between the 
different religions societies existing at the time, was 
by the societies appropriated for the support of preach- 
ing. — An Act was passed by the Legislature in 1832 
authorizing the inhabitants of Farmington to distribute 
the proceeds of the land reserved for the first settled 
minister equally among the six following religious 
Societies, viz: — the Congregational, Baptist, Freewill 
Baptist, Methodist, Universalist, and Unitarian. But 
doubts were entertained of the constitutionality of the 
law, and it was thought advisable to settle a minister 
by the first Parish, which was organized on the 10th 
day of Sept. 1832, at a meeting duly called for that 
purpose, when it was agreed to give the Rev. Timo- 
thy Johnson a call to become their pastor, on c )ndi- 
tion of his giving his consent to an equal distribution 
of the whole of the ministerial fund, excepting fifty 
dollars, — which he was to retain for his own personal 
benefit, — among the six following religious Societies, 
viz: — the Congregational, Baptist, Freewill Baptist, 
Methodist, Universalist, and Unitarian, to be by them 
received and managed at their discretion, and for 
their individual benefit. Mr. Johnson having signi- 
fied his acceptance, the parish passed a vote confirm- 
ing the sale of the lands, and also giving their con- 
sent to the foregoing arrangement, which was accord- 
ingly carried into effect by the proper officers, and 
the funds transferred into the hands of agents chosen 
by the Town, in trust, for the Societies, and by them 
passed over to the several Societies, and by them 
have been appropriated to their individual benefit, — 
amounting to 1|^636,17 to each society. 

90— Bridrjes. 

The first bridge across the Sandy River was built 
by Benj. Butler, at the center of the Town, on the 



66 History of Farmington. 

road laid out on the dividing line between the Church 
and the Stoyell lots, being a continuation of the Per- 
ham Koad west across the river, and thence norther- 
ly around the hill to intersect the County Road near 
where Jedediah Thomas formerly lived, the whole of 
which has since been discontinued. The bridge was 
begun in 1805 and completed in 1808, on a contract 
made by Ezekiel Porter and Timothy Johnson, who 
were to pay Mr. Butler ^iOOO on its completion. — 
A small part of the amount was paid by subscription. 
The bridge was damaged by the freshet in IS 12, and 
repaired by the town. It was rendered impassable 
by the freshet of 1814, when the road on the inter- 
vale was much damaged, and it was soon after dis- 
continued. 

91 — Farniington Falli^ Bridge 

The second bridge built across the Sandy River was 
at the Falls, in about 1808. It was built by volun- 
tary subscription. A part of it was carried away by 
the freshet of l8l4, and was repaired by the Town. 
By the great fresiiet of 1820 it was wholly swept 
away, and it was rebuilt in the following winter by 
the towns of Farminy^tou and Chesierville. — Chester- 
ville now builds and keeps in repair about one third 
part of this bridge. — The larger part of the bridge was 
again carried away, and the Farniington part rebuilt 
at the expense of the town by John Russ, m 1827, 
and again by Mr. Russ in the winter of 1828, and 
again in 18^31, at an expense of $1300, and covered. 
Since that time $250 only have been expended. 

92 — Fairbanh-a Bridge. 

The third bridge was built in 1811 at the upper 
part of the town, by subscription. It is commonly 
called the Fairbanks Bridge. It was accepted by the 
Town in 1813, free of ;;ny expense. In May. 1814, 



History of Farmington. 67 

the bridge was carried away by tlie freshet. It was 
rebuilt by the town in 1815, and was somewhat dam- 
aged by the great fresliet of Oct. 1820 and again re- 
paired by the town. In the winter of 1826 it was 
rebuilt by John Russ, on a warrant for ten years, 
for the sum of ^890. He partially rebuilt it once 
during the period. In 18o8 it was built Avith stone 
abutments and covered, at an expense of f 1800, and 
destroyed by the ice in the winter following. It was 
again rebuilt, in its present form, in 1839, at an ex- 
pense of $600, and again rebuilt in part in 1842, 
since which time it has undrgone some repairs. 

93 — Center Bridge. 

The first bridge built where the one now stands, 
at the center of the town, was in 1818. The cost 
was ^4837,12, of which ^497,91 was raised by sub- 
scription, and f 1357,12 was paid by the town. In 
1820 it was somewhat damaged by the great freshet, 
and repaised by the town. It was a^ain repaired in 
1827, and extended in length. In 1831 it was re- 
built at an expense of $2 11 7, the road from the east- 
ern abutment being filled to the high bank. It fell 
in 1841, and was rebuilt the same year at an expense 
of $700. The eastern abutment was injured by the 
Nov. freshet in 1845, and has since been rebuilt. 

94 — Poivder House. 

The town has a substantial brick magazine for the 
deposite of military stores, which was built in 1817. 
It is now of little use. as by the present laws, the 
town is not required to keep such stores on hand. 
[Since the publication of the first edition of Judge 
Parker's history, Farmington has had a race of boys, 
and consequently we have now no Powder Magazine. 
The Powder House, however, has given a permanent 
name to the hill on which it once stood.] 



58 Ilr^TORY or F.v.nnxGTOv. 

95 — Tifntierie.<: 

The first tauyard in Farmington was commenced 
by Ebenezer Sweet about 1785, a few rods south- 
west of the present site of the Cong. Meeting House. 
This was the first tannery this side of Winthrop. — 
Samuel Sewall commenced tanning at the lower end 
of the town soon after Mr. Sweet. Samuel Pool com- 
menced about the same time, nefcr Mr. Sweet, on the 
farm now owned by Jacob Abbott, Esq. Messrs. Ba- 
ker & Hopkinson constructed a Tannery at the yard 
afterwards owned by Joseph KnoAvlton, in 1805. Mr. 
Baker soon after sold out to Mr. Hopkinson and re- 
moved to Wilton. Mr. Hopkinson continued to car- 
ry on the business with success till 1S18, when he 
sold to Mr. Knowlton and removed to Ohio. Mr. K. 
made considerable improvement, and continued the bu- 
siness with apparent success till 1H42, when he failed 
in business and went to Indiana, where he has since 
removed his family. This Tannery is now improved 
by Mr Taylor. Elijah Butler built a Tannery on the 
farm now owned by James Presson, m the upper part 
of the town, about the same time. He continued the 
business for some time, after which it passed mto 
the hands of his son, Winthrop Butler, who carried 
it on till near his death, in 1835, since which time 
the buildings have been taken away, and the yard 
has become extinct. Luther Townsend began the es- 
tabhshment now owned by him in the upper section 
of the town, in ISIO. The dam connected with the 
Ikrk Mill was swept away by the freshet in 1827, 
when his yard was much injured. He has since re- 
built it with considerable improvement^^ He has a 
Bark Mill which goes by water. Mr. T. has since 
turned his attention to farming, and the Tannery is 
now managed by his son, Samuel O. Townsend.— 
Joshua Adams commenced the Tannery formerly own- 
ed by him, at the Center Village, in 1828, where he 
did considerable business until the present season. 



History of Farmington. 69 

He has removed to Wilton. The yard now owned 
and improved by diaries Hutchins was put in ope- 
ration by Henry Brooks about the year 1S35, in con- 
nection with Apollos Osgood. 

96 — BlacHmifhs. 

The first Blacksmith Shop put up in Farmington 
is said to have been opened by one Sally, on the west 
side of the river, near where Mr. Austin lived, op- 
posite the Center Village. He continued the busi- 
ness but a short time. Peter Gay put up a tempo- 
rary shop where he settled, at the upper part of the 
town, on the west side of the river, about 1789 or 90, 
where he did some business for some eight or ten 
years. — Soon after this a Mr. Bowley commenced, and 
continued the business for some years, near Mr. 
Knowlton's, at the lower end of the town. — John 
Church put up a shop at the center of the town in 
1790. He was the principal workman for some 
time. — John Young commenced the business at the 
Falls about 1800, where he has continued the business 
most of the time since.— Benjamin Heath made a set- 
tlement on what is commonly called the Heath Farm, 
now owned by Henry Titcomb and others, in 1792, 
where he continued to carry on the Blacksmithing 
business till he removed to Salem in this County, 
about 1818, who with his sons were among the first 
settlers in that place. — Asahel Wyman, from Groton, 
Mass., set up the business on the farm since owned 
by Mr. Quincy, prior to 1800, and continued it while 
he was able to attend to business. After him Jere- 
my Wyman, his son, set up the business on the west 
side of the river. He built the brick shop now oc- 
cupied by M. S. Norcross for the Pottery business, in 
1810, where he continued till March, 1814, when he 
died with the spotted or cold fever, being the second 
case in town. — Nathan Backus first commenced the 
business on the west side of the river, about 1800, 



70 History of Farmington. 

and soon removed to the east side and built what is 
now called the Backus Shop in the Center Village, 
where he continued business the most os the time to 
his death in 1841. — The Blacksmith business was 
commenced at Fairbanks' Mills by a Mr, Allen in 
1812, who continued but a short time, and was suc- 
ceeded by another man by the name of Allen. After 
him Eobert Bangs prosecuted the business. — Ephraim 
J. Green commenced in 1824 and has since done a 
good business. — Daniel Baker has more recently set 
up the business at the same place, and Hosea Bump 
at, the Corner just below. — Charles Savage from An- 
son commenced business at the lower part of the vil- 
lage, about 1817, where he did a good business for 
some years He left about 1833 since which time 
various others have occupied the stand. — Many work- 
men have set up the business in different parts of the 
town, and at diiferent periods, and various shifts have 
beon made too numerous to mention, our object be- 
ing to give a clue only to the first rise and progress 
of the various kinds of business pursued in town. 

97 — Carpenters. 

The following is a list of some of the first Carpen- 
ters and House Joiners in town. — Moses Starling, Jo- 
seph Sysvester, Hugh Cox, Benj. Butler, Elvaton 
Parker, Hugh Stewart, Thomas Wendell, Rufus Davis, 
Peter West, David Morrill, Jonathan Graves, Lemuel 
Bursley, Henry Stewart, Daniel Stanley, and Zenas 
Backus. Many of these carried on the Cabinet and 
Chair Making business in the winter season, and most 
of them were more or less engaged in farming. 

Q^— Hatters. 

A Hatter's Shop was built by Robert Baker in 
1805 at the Center V^illage, where he carried on the 
business for a few years. When he left it passed 
into the hands of Samuel Belcher who occupied it 



History of Farmington. 71 

as a store. — In 1811 Christoplier Atkinson commenced 
the hat business at the same place. He built a shop 
soon after, where he continued the business for a 
time He was followed by Coburn Emerson for a 
short time. Wood & Bond set up the business in 
1825. Mr. Bond soon left, and Mr. Wood continued 
for some time after. — In 18 16 Isaac Hibbard set up 
the business at the Fails, where he has continued it 
most of the time since. — Thomas Spooner commenced 
business at the same place in 1826, but soon left. 

l00—3Ierchanl.-i. 

Th(mias Flint and llartson Cony were the first 
two who brought goods into the place to trade upon. 
Dr. Flint opened his store in a small building on the 
farm now improved by John Bailey, and built the 
first Potash, ne;u' what is called the Old Beaver Dam 
Brook, not far from the east end of the Center 
Bridge. Mr Cony opened his store in a part of Mr. 
Church's log house, in the winter of 1792, Thomas 
Whittier and Nathaniel Bishop built a store at the 
Falls, and furnished it with goods about 1796. — This 
Store was afterwards fitted up, and with some addi- 
tions, changed to a dwelling house, and is known as 
the Russ House, Whittier & Bishop sold to Zacha- 
riah Butterfield, who continued trading and manufac- 
turing potash till 1802, v/lien he sold to Jonathan 
Russ, who continued the business for some time to a 
considerable extent. Daniel Beal opened a Store at 
the Falls about the year 1800, where he continued to 
do business for some time under different firms. He 
is now engaged, in connection with his son, D. Beal, 
Jr., at the Center Village, where they have continued 
the mercantile business for some years with success. 
Thomas Croswell commenced as a retail merchant at 
the P^alls a few years after Mr, Beal, where he made 
a permanent settlement, and has contiriued the busi- 
ness to the present time. Benj. Sampson was con- 



72 History of Farmington. 



nected with Mr. C. for a while, after i^vhich Mr. S. 
commenced business by himself. A. B. Caswell, Lem- 
uel Bursley Jr., L. S. Caswell, and some others have 
been engaged in trade at the Falls to a considerable 
extent. ' ' 

David Moors, from Groton, Mass., moved to Farm- 
ington with his family in 17^9, and opened a store 
in the Church House. The house was then occupi- 
ed by John Church 1st. Mr. Moors soon after built 
what is now called the Moors House, on what was 
then called the New Road [now Pleasant Street] a 
part of which he occupied for a store. The first 
County Road lying under the hill, the Town laid out 
a new road in 1797, from the County Road west of 
where the Freewill Baptist Meeting House now stands, 
direct to the top of the hill in front of Thomas Hunt- 
er's house, and from thence so as to intersect the 
former road at Enoch Craig's north line. 'I'he first 
beginning on the hill where the village is now situ- 
ated, as has been before stated, was made by Joseph 
Holland, who was succeeded by John Church 1st, 
whose house, and that of Dr. Stoyell, were the only 
ones on the Hill prior to Mr. Moors'. Timothy and 
Thomas Johnson soon after put up what is now called 
the Lowell House, on the rear of the same lot, on 
the Front Street, a part of which was occupied by Tim- 
othy as a store, which he opened in 1800 or 1801. 
The Messrs. Johnsons soon after built a store on the 
same street, adjoining the Common, which was after- 
wards moved on to Main Street, and is now qccupi- 
ed by Lemuel Adams as a Saddle and Harness Mak- 
er's Shop. [Now the dwelling house next north of 
the Forest House.] The Johnsons subsequently built 
a large and convenient Store, by the Common, which 
was afterwards purchased by Edward Butler and 
changed to a dwelhng house, and is now occupied, 
with some additions by J. S. Milliken as a tavern. — 
The Johnsons and Mr. Moors both erected Potash- 



History of Farmington. "•'» 

eries and Pearl Ovens, and carried on a large amount 
of business for some years. Timothy Johnson, after 
a short recess from trade, agsin commenced with his 
brother, Joseph Johnson, in a small shop then own- 
ed by Ebenezer Childs, near the upper part of the 
Village. Subseipiently they traded separately, lower 
dowm where the center of business now is, Joseph 
and his son Joseph 8. still continue to trade. Clif- 
ford Belcher and Joseph Titcomb commenced trade 
soon after the Messrs. Johnsons, at the upper part 
of the Vilia"-e, where most of the business was done 
for many years. Mr. T. sold to his brother, John 
Titcomb, and retired to his present farm m 1820.— 
Mr. Belcher continued trade till near his death, m 
1832. Samuel Belcher commenced trade in a build- 
ing opposite his brother's in 1811, and died in 1811. 
Bas business was closed soon after by liis brother, 
B M. Belcher. Ebenezer Childs commenced trade 
about 1815, and continued business till within a few- 
years, when he became engaged in other business.— 
Rosimus K. Lowell commenced business also in the 
upper part of the Village in 1817. His health fail- 
ing, he closed in about 1830, and died m 1837.— 
Asa Abbot commenced in 1827. He retired in 1841, 
and has since pursued his former occupation ot farra- 
ino- with success. Isaac Tyler commenced trade in 
th? lower part of the Village about 1825, where he 
continued till 1835. 

Abiatha Green put up the iirst Potash at the upper 
part of the town about 1802, and took in ashes ui 
connection with Mr. Beal, then trading at the^ Falls. 
Francis Norton opened the Iirst store at Backus 
Corner in 1801. Jose])li Fairbanks commenced trade 
at his mills in 1808, having before been connected 
with Leonard Merry, on the other side of the river. 
He soon after put up a potash and entered largely 
into trade in all its various branches. He continued 
the business nearly twenty years. He was followed 
by Francis Butler in 1828. Mr. B. afterwards sold 



74 HisiokY oy Farmington. 

to Hiise & Read. Edward Butler and Samuel Jones 
traded at Backus' Corner for a time, and were fol- 
lowed by Zenas Backus. Trade has since inelined to 
the center of the town, and little is done here. 

101 — Center Village. 

In 1802 the road, or what was then called the 
Back Street, — now Main Street, — was laid out by the 
Town. It commenced near what was then Benjamin 
Brainard's now Jacob Abbott's, and running easterly 
of the Moors Lot, and the Lowell Lot, northerly un- 
til it intersected the formor road near Mr. Belcher's 
Office. The former County Koad, excepting that 
part between the Stoyell Lot and the north line of 
the Common, has since been discontinued, and the 
before described Town Koad established as a County 
Koad. A Town Koad has recently been laid out and 
established, extending from the Kerham Koad south, 
to a line ojDposite tlie north line of the Academy 
Lot, from thence westerly between the Academy and 
the Baptist Meeting House to the County Koad, or 
Main Street. Most of the lots on this street have been 
taken up and built on. 

102 — Center Village in 1840. 



Dwelling Houses 




86 


Saddle and Harness Makers 


3 


Stores 




14 


Blacksmiths 


4 


Milliner's Shops 




4 


Carriage and Sleigh Maker 


1 


Mech;iuio's Shops 




18 


Tin Factories 


V 


Law Offices 




5 


Lawyers 


7 


Urick ScliDol House 




1 


l^hysiciaus 


6 


Brick Meetiug Houses 




3 


Tailors 


•A 


Academy 




1 


I'riiitiug Establishment 


1 


Boarding School 


' 


1 


Trovisioa Shop 


1 


Court House 




1 


Cabinet and Chair Makers 


1 


Jail 




1 


Watch Makers 


2 


Fireproof Jiuilding for 


County 




House Joinors 


a 


Ottices iiiid i'osi Office 


1 


I'ropoLtiouatc number of Shoe- 




Tannery 




1 


makers and other Mechanics. 




Boot aud Slme Facto 


ry 


I 







History of Farmington. 



75 



]OS — Toxijn Officers: From DaJe of In corporation to 1846. 



Selectmen, Assessors. &c. 



170S. P. 

1799. P. 

1800. P. 



ISlo, 
181fi. 
1817. 

1.818. 



1894 : Peter Corbett. E. Porter. E. Craig. 
1795. P. Corbett. E. Porter, E. Crair. 
179fi. P. Corbett. Jotbam Smitb. S. Pelcber. 
1797. P. Corbett. Jotbam Smitb. S.Belcber. 

Corbett. E. Porter. J. Smitli. 

Corbett. E. Porter. J. Smitb. 

Corbett. E. Porter. J. Smitb. 
1801. Beni.Wliittier. II. Holly. Eben. Norton. 
180L\ S.Ailams. Jon.Cnsbman. Tbo.Hisceok. 

1803. Penben Lowell. E. Craig. E. Norton, 

1804, E. Norton, J. E. Woods. .Tabez Gay, 
180.^. E. Norton. ,T. E. Woods. S'1. Love.ioy. 
IBOC). J.E. Woods. Oliver Bailev. L. Perbam. 

1807. E. Norton. 0. Bailey. Tbos. Wendell. 

1808. O. Bailey, T. Wendell. J. Stinnbfield. 

1809. O. Bailev. Elii. Norton. Jona. Puss. 

1810. O. Bailev. Elii. Norton. Wm. Gonld. 

1811. Leonard Merry. T. D. Blake. 'O.Bailey 

1812. L. Merry. .T. E. Woods.. Tere.Stinebfield 
181?.! L. Merry. J. E. AVoods. ,T. Stincbfield 
I8I4'. J. Stinekfield. Job Brooks. O. Bailey. 

J. Stinekfield. .T. Brooks. Steo.Titcomb 
J. Stincbfield. J. Brooks. S. Titcomb. 
.T. Fairbanks. ,Tas .Butterfield. J.Smitb 
J. Fairbanks. Tbo. Parker. Beni. Butler. 

1819. J. Fairbanks. J.Butterfield.Jobn Puss. 

1820. J. Fairbanks. .T. Butterfield. .T. Puss. 

1821. -T. Butterfield. J.Morrison. J.Fairbanks 

1822. J. IMorrison. B.M.Belcber.T. Parker. 
18''?. T. Parker. B. IM.Belcber. J. Stincbfield. 
1824 J.Stincbfield. died Marcb 1.5. B. M.Bel- 

eber. died Mar. 15. J. Fairbanks Jr.T. 
Parker. Natb'l Woods. 
J. Fairbanks Jr. T.Parker. Jobn Puss. 
J. Fairbanks jr. T. Parker. J. Puss, 
T. Parker, J. Puss, Jobn Cburcb. 
T. Parker. J. Puss. Jobn Cburcb jr. 
J. Puss. J. Butterfield. Francis Butler 
...„.., J. Puss. J. Butterfield. F. Butler. 

1831. J. Butterfield. F. Butler. Sam'l Stanley 

1832, J. Butterfield, F. Butler, S. Stanley, 

1833. T. Parker. Henry Jobnson. I. Tyler.. 

1834, T. Parker. F. Butler. Jobn Puss. 

T. Parker. S. Stanley. J. Butterfield. 

T. Parker. J.Eairbanks, Jobn Morrison. 

T. Parker. S. Norton. Beni. Sampson. 

J-Jewett. Moses Cbandler. A.B.Caswell 

J. Butterfield. J. Fairbanks. A B.Caswell 

1840, A. B. Caswell. B. Pease, Wm. Tufts. 

1841, A. B. Caswell, B Pease. Eliab Eaton. 

1842. S. Stanley, E. Eaton, Amasa Corbett, 

1843. S. Stanley. E- Eaton. Amasa Corbettt, 

1844. A. Corbett. Alvan Currier. M. Cbandler. 

1845, M- Chandler, A. Currier, Henry Puss, 
I84fi. S. Stanley. P. P. Tufts. Henry Clark. 



Clerk. 

Supply Belcher. 
Solomon Adams. 
Solomon Adams. 
Solomon Adams. 
Solomon Adams. 
Solomon Adams, 
Solomon Adams. 
Solnmon Adams. 
IT. A^. Chamberlain 
Church Brainard. 
C. Brainard. 
C. Brainard. 
C. Brainard. 
C. Brainard. 

C. Brainard, 
C. Brainard, 
C. Brainard. 
C. Brainard. 
C. Brainard, 
C. Brainard. 

H. Belcher. 

H. Belclier. 

H. Belcher. 

H. Belcher. 

IT. Belcher. 

H. Belcher. 

N. Cutler. 

T. Parker. 

T. Parker. 

T. Parker. 



1825, 
182fi, 
1827, 
1828. 
1829, 
1830, 



1835, 
1830, 

1837. 
1838. 
1839. 



T. Parker, 

T. Parker, 

T. Parker. 

T. Parker. 

T. Parker. 

T. Johnson. 

T. Johnson. 

T. Johnson. 

I. Tyler, 

T. Tyler. 

I. Tvler, 

T. Jobnson. 

H. B. Stovell. 

H. B. Stovell. 
Sam'lBelcher. 
S. Belcher. 
R. Belcher, 
Z. T. Milliken 
C. E. .Johnson, 
C. E. Jobnson. 
A. G.AVheeler 

A. G-Wbeeler. 
A G.AA^beeler. 



Treasurer. 

M. Starling. 
AI. Starling, 
M. StarliUfr, 
AL Starlin'tr. 
AI. Starliuff. 
M. Starlintr, 
M. Starlinsr. 
C. Brainard. 
C. Brainard. 
C. Brainard, 
Jobn Hollv, 
Zac. Norton, 
E. Porter. 
Sol. Adams. 
S(d. Adams. 
Tb. Hiscock 
Tb.. Jobnson 
Natb. Cutler 
N. Cutler. 
N Cutler. 
N. Cutler. 
.J.Eairbanks 
J.Fairbanks 
.J.Eairbanks 
E. Crais. 
E. Craiff. 
E. Craig. 
E. Craig. 
J. Titcomb. 
.Jos. Titcomb 



Jos. Titcomb 
.Jos. Titcomb 
Jos. Titcomb 
Jos. Titcomb 
.Jos. Titcomb 
Ed. Butler. 
Ed. Butler. 
Isaac Tyler. 
M.Butterfi'd 
Tbos.Hunt'r 
T. Hunter. 
l^Van. Butler 
T. Hunter. 
T. Hunter. 
Sam'StanleV 
S. Stanley' 
A. Corbett 
A . Corbett 
Ale.Hillman 
A. Ilillman 
Sam. Stanley 
P. P. Tufts 
E.G. ButU'r 



76 



History of Farmington. 



1 04 — Eeprpiientative.!^. 



1798, Supply Belcher 8124, 

1799, Ezekiel Porter 1825, 

1800, Stephen Titcomb 1826. 

1801, Supply Belcher 1827, 

1802, Vote not to send representative 1828, 

1803, Vote not to send representative 1829, 

1804, Ebch<>zer Norton 1830. 

1805, Ezekiel Porter 1831. 

1806, Moses Chandler 1832, 

1807, Zechariah Norton 1833. 

1808, Samuel Butterfield 1834. 

1809, Supply Belcher. Nathan Cutler 1835. 
1810! Natlian Butler. Joscp'i Norton 1836. 

1811. Nather Cutler, Timothy Johnson 1837. 

1812. Leonard Merry. T. Johnson 1838, 
1S13. Leonard Merry. Asahel Gross 1839, 
1814. Vote not to send representative 1840, 
ISlo, Vote not to send representative 1841, 

1816. Meeting adjourned without day 1842, 

1817. Vote not tt send representative 1843 

1818. Vote not to send representative 

1819. Nathan Cutler.-Joseph Fairbanks 

1820. Jabez Gay 1844, 

1821. Hiram Belcher 1845, 

1822. William Gould 1846, 
182;'.. James Butterfield 



James Butterfield 

Edward Butler 

Edward Butler 

Joseph Johnson 

Hii-am Belcher 

.Tose])h Jonson 

John R'.iss 

Hiram Belcher 

Francis Butler 

Isaac Tyler 

Moses "Butterfield 

Joseph Russell 

Samuel Stanley 

Josiah Prescott 

Samuel B. Norton 

Alanson B. Caswell 

Samuel Belcher 

Moses Chandler 

John Jewett 

, Classed with Temple, not rep- 
resented : Nathan Cutler chos- 
en April 29, 1844 

James A. Duns more. Temple 

Eliab Eaton 

Peter R. Tiifcs 



1 05 — Phijsicians. 



Theopiiilus Hopkins was the first Phy- 
sician who settled in Farmington. 
He settled on the place now occupi- 
ed by John Bailey, where he re- 
mained only a few years. 

Aaron Stoyell was the second. He set- 
tled at the Center '^ illage in 1794, 
where he remained 40 years, and had 
an extensive run of practice. His was 
the second house built on the Hill, 
which v/as in about 1796, and was 
rebuilt by him in 1827. He died 
in Ohio, "in 1834. 

Samuel Guile made a partial settle- 
ment m the place about 1790, but 
soon lefl. 



Ebenezer Taylor commenced prjictice 
in the town in 1804 and left soon 
after. 

Josiah Prescott commenced practice in 
1813, and has continued practice in 
the place the most of the time since. 

Joseph Caldwell commenced practice in 
1825. He remained but a short time. 

Thomas Flint in 1826. 

Allen Pliilli;)S in 1829. 

Lafavette Perkins in 1836. 

('. W. Staples in 1840. 

[N. Dillingham, Botanic, 1840; a short 
time."! 

Jophanus Henderson, 1881. 

[ Blake, at the Falls, in ] 



106- 



^ahiatio)). 



Polls. Inhab's. Valuation. 
1790 494 

1794 13(; $24,183 

1800 218 942 58,752 



1810 



ItV.V.) 



'.i:'.,7(;i 



1820 


320 


1938 115,462 


1830 


397 


2341 16e,798 


1840 


452 


2613 462,375 


Lrist 


d;lt.. I 


raised to cash value. 



History of Farmington. 77 

107 — Laicyers. 

Heni'v V. Chamberlain, from Woi'ces- till 1828, when he removeJ to New 

ter, Mass. , settled in the town as an Sharon. 

attorney in 1800, where he continu- Hiram Belcher commenced the practice 

ed to do business till 1808, when he of law in 1812, and continues the 

moved to the South. practice under the firm of H. & H. 

Nathan Cutler, from Weston, Mass., Belcher. 

settled in the place in 1804, and is H.innibal Reicher was admitted to the 

still living, but from ajre has dis- Bar in ISPj'J. 

continued practice. His palce is sup- Samuel Belcher commenced practice 

plied by in 183-5. 

John L. Cutler, his second son. Robert Goodenow, from Alfred, remov- 

Zachariah Soule, from Halifax, Mass , ed from Wilton, in 1832, and still 

came to Farmington from Paris, continues to practice. 

Me., about 1806, opened an office Joshua Randall, who commenced prac- 

and practiced till 1812. tice in Phillips, opened an office in 

Elnathan Pope opened an office at the Farmington in 1841. 

Falls in 1809, where he coutiuued 

108 — Grou-lJi of Farmington. 

The growth of the town from the commencement has been rather gradual. — 
The increase of population was most rapid while the new lands were settling. 
The increase of the Center Village was considerable from 17^0 to 1810. From 
that time to 1820 it did not compare with former yeai's, which was the case 
with the country geneially, which perhaps may be accounted for from the unset- 
tled state of our trade with other nations, and the unfruitfulness of some of 
the seasons Since that time it has increased, not only in i^opulation, but in 
wealth, and every kind of business, equally if not beyond any village in the 
State, which is destitute of water power, and situated so far from water com- 
munication. 



109— Religious Socie(iei<— Freeivill Baptists. 

The Valley of the Sandy River, althouo^h settled 
by a moral and to some extent a religious communi- 
ty, was to a great extent, for some years after the 
first settlement commenced, destitute of the means of 
forming and sustaining a proper organization for re- 
ligious worship on the Sabbath. The first preacher 
who visited the place was the Rev. Mr.. Emerson, 
of Georgetown. At the request of Mrs. Stephen Tit- 
comb he visited the family, and preached the first 
sermon in the then almost entire wilderness of the 
Sandy River, in Mr. T.'s log house. After this the 
place was visited by the Rev. Mr. Little, of that part 



78 History of Farmington. 

of Wells now Kennebunk, as a missionary. He was 
followed by some others. In the summer of 17P4 
the Kev. .Tose])h Thaxter, from Ed<jarton. Mass . im- 
' der the patronage of the Massachusetts Missionary 
Society, pretty extensively explored the Valley of the 
Sandy Iliver. and attended to the distribution of books 
to some of the most destitute of the inhabitants. — 
Some few years prior to this Elder Eliphalet Smith, 
a Baptist preacher from Fayette, attended some few 
meetings in the place. 

In the summer of 1792 Elder Edward Lock, who 
had previously been pastor of a lar»e and independ- 
ent church in T^oudon and Canterbury, N. H , remov- 
ed to this State and settled in wh?t is now C'hester- 
vill. The church of which he had been pastor had 
held views in sympathy with those of Benjamin Ran- 
dal, the founder of the Freewill Baptist connection, 
but most of its members, with Mr. L., were induced 
to join the Shakers. Mr. Lock, however, abandoned 
the Shakers before comein^ to Chesterville. Mr. L. 
established Sabbath appointments at the dwellino^ 
house of Moses Starlinoj, Esq., on the west side of 
the river, and at a barn on the farm now owned by 
Dea. John Bailey, on the east side, There was no 
particular interest manifested till near the close of the 
year, when Oliver Billings — since Elder Billings — 
made a visit to the family of Mr. J. Everet, a relative 
of his on the west side of the river. Mr. Billings 
had very recently been brought to a knowledge of 
the truth in a most powerful reformation then in 
progress in what was then called Starling. — now Fay- 
ette. Such was the change in his deportment, and 
such the interest and affection with which he rec- 
ommended to others the blessing so undeservedly — 
to use his own expression — bestowed upon him, that 
it was the means in the hands of God of carrying 
conviction, not only to some of the family, but to ma- 
ny in the neighborhood, who were hopefully brought 



HiSTOiiY OF Farmington. 19 

to a saving knowledge of the truth. Thus from the 
faithful yet humble labors of a private individual pro- 
ceeded one of the most extensive revivals ever wit- 
nessed in this section of the State. Mr. Billings soon 
after became an efficient minister of the Baptist 
church. 

From the commencement the revival continued to 
increase. Elder Lock proceeded to [baptize a num- 
ber not long after, among whom were .Josiah Everet, 
Reuben 'J'urner. John F. Woods and Joseph Sylves- 
ter, with their wives, and Francis Tufts, Joseph Hol- 
land, Abigail Bradford, and some others, who proceed- 
ed, to unite in church fellowship, together with Elder 
Lock, on the •J9th day of March, 1793. Elder Lock 
took the particular oversight of the church. F^ran- 
cis Tufts and John F. Woods were appointed ruling 
elders. This othce has since been discontinued by 
the F\ Baptists. Joseph Sylvester was chosen dea- 
con and Joseph Holland, clerk. Mr. Everet is the 
only individual now living who was embodied in the 
F'reewill Baptist Church in this town at its first or- 
ganization. In Sept. following Elder Benjamin Ran- 
dall of New Durham, N. H., who was, under God, 
the founder of the F^reewill Baptist Church in New 
Hampshire, and afterwards in Maine, after attending 
the Yearly Meeting at Edgecomb and visiting the 
churches already organized, traveled up the Sandy 
River. With others as a Committee from the Yearly 
Meeting, after a proper examination, he proceeded 
to extend the right hand of fellowship to the church 
already formed, as a sister church in the F^reewill 
Baptist denomination. This was on the 23d day of 
Sept. 1793, and the church was then constituted what 
was then called a Monthly Meeting. It was repre- 
sented for the first time in the Yearly Meeting held 
at Gorham on the 25th of Oct. following. This was 
the first chul-ch organized in this State east of Gor- 
ham. or north of Woolwich and Kdo-ccomb. From 



80 History of Fahmington. 

this bes^inning have proceeded the most of the Church- 
es and Quarterly Meetings in the Kennebec and Pe- 
nobscot Yearly Meetings, now numbering 15 Quar- 
terly Meetings, 256 Churches, 176 ordained, and 37 
licensed preachers, and 12,147 communicants. At this 
time the revival continued to increase, additions were 
made to the Church in this place, and branches were 
formed at West Pond — now Belgrade, — and Seven 
Mile Brook — now Embden and Anson, — which after- 
wards became separate churches. 

In Sept. 1794 Elder liandall, in company with El- 
der John BuzzeL again visited the Sandy lliver, em- 
bodied a church at U])per Town, — now Phillips, — 
which constituted a se])arate Monthly Meeting. On 
their return Elder flandal preached on the Sabbath, 
being the 2Sth, at Dea. I'ufts', at the lower part of 
the town, and attended to the administration of the 
Lord's Supper. This is supposed to be the tirst time 
that the ordinance was administered in the town. — 
Eld. Buzzel preached the same day at Starks, where 
a reformation was then in progress. 

At the Yearly Meeting held on the 6th of Sept. 
at Edgecomb, the Edgecomb and Farmington Quar- 
terly Meetings were both established, and their respect- 
ive bounds defined, that of Farmington to comprise 
all the churches belonging to the connection north of 
Edgecomb and east of the Androscoggin lUvcr, ex- 
cepting Lewiston, Edgecomb, and all the sea shore 
east of Brunswick and Lewiston. 

Eld. Jesse Lee was appointed by the New England 
Conference to travel in the Province of Maine for the 
Conference year of 1793. He preached in this town 
for the first time on the loth of Oct. of that year. 
At the succeeding Conference in 1794 two preachers 
were appointed to travel on the Circuit laid out by 
him in the year previous. They arrived here in the 
latter part of the year and took part m the revival 
then in progress, and, with Samuel Sewall, then liv- 



History of Farmington. 81 

ing in the south part of the town, and who had es- 
tablished society meetings in the phice, — rendered 
essential service in the establishment of such a Chris- 
tian influence as has never been effaced, and laid the 
foundation for the establishment of several churches 
of different denominations, which have since been em- 
bodied. 

The revival which, had been in progress nearly two 
years, was still on the increase, and had extended 
into almost every section of the country then settled, 
in some instances interesting almost the entire popu- 
lation. Additions continued to be made to the church 
which now numbered something near forty in all. 
Besides those already named may be reckoned Joseph, 
Elisha, Moses, Sarah, Huldah, and Polly Bradford, 
David Went worth and wife, Isaac Powers and wife, 
Dolly Craig, Joseph Riant and wife, Elisha Gay, 
John Tufts, and Pruda Parker of this town, and Isaac, 
Ebenezer, and Eliphalet Brown, Job and Eliphalet 
Hardy, of Wilton, in which direction the church con- 
tinued to increase. 

In 1796, Joseph Sylvester having left, Isaac Brown 
and Elisha Gay were chosen Deacons. They had 
early taken means to provide funds which it was 
agreed should be raised upon principles of equality, 
not only for the maintenance of the ministry but to 
afford relief to such of the church as were in needy 
or distressed circumstances. 

They took the New Testament as' their only rule 
of faith and practice, and were well agreed in its ap- 
plication to the Church of Christ. In 1798 the church 
had become so extended in territory as to render it 
necessary to establish three Sabbath appointments 
and church conferences, which were aiternatley at- 
tended a,t Isaac Brown's in Wilton, and at J. F. Woods, 
and David Wentworth's in Farmington, for some 
years, which appointments were generally well at- 
tended bv the mem.bers from each section, who gen- 



82 History of Fakmingtox. 

erally came through the woods on foot, by spotted 
lines at first, and afterwards by a poor road. 

Elder Lock, who had continued to take the over- 
sight of the church up to near this time, although 
possessed of more than ordinary mind and talent, and 
apparently zealous in the e^nse of truth, perhaps 
never possessed that disinterested devotedness to the 
cause of the Redeemer necessary in a minister of the 
gospel, to be truly useful in the building up of the 
church of God. He soon attempted to create a schism 
in the churches by introducing a plan for forming a 
community of Christians, which were to have all 
things in common; their property to be thrown into 
one common stock, with himself to control, if not to 
possess the whole. He partially succeeded in drawing 
up a platform and in drawing off a few, but when 
his plan was more fully understood, it resulted in an 
entire failure, and he soon lost the confidence of the 
Christian public by a course of life which not only 
lessened his influence as a preacher of the gospel, 
but ended in the prostration of his moral character. 
His connection with the church was dissolved about 
1800, and never after renewed. He died in Emb- 
den in 1824, aged 82. 

While these troubles were in progress the church 
established society meetings, and regularly sustained 
them. Ebenezer Brown, a man of deep piety, and 
who possessed an acceptable gift, rendered essential 
service in sustaining public worship, and during this 
period they were sometimes visited by the Western 
Elders, and they had preaching occasionally from 
other sources. 

Ebenezer Scales was ordained in Oct. 1804, and 
Ebenezer Brown in May following, both members of 
this church. The practice of preaching at this period 
had more of an itinerant character than at present, 
and produced a more general circulation of public 
aifts. 



History of Farmington. 83 

The church having increased very considerably, 
and embracing both Farmingtcni and Wilton, it was 
divided in 1807, when separate Sabbath appointments 
and conferences were established in each town. 

Elder Benaiah Pratt was ordained on the 17th of 
Oct. 1807, who, with Elder Timothy Johnson, took 
the particular oversight of the church for some time. 
Isaac Perkins and Jedediah Thomas acted as deacons 
for the time being, and in 1814 Elisha Gay and 
Isaac Perkins were set apart to that office, and in 
1818 John Corbett was appointed, and Isaac Perkins 
was continued in office. After De;>. Corbett ceased 
to officiate Dea. Gay again filled the office, which 
he continued to fill till his death, in 1842. He was 
a member of the church nearly 48 years. His place 
has been supplied by the choice of Benj. Adams. 

The years 1808 and 1809 were seasons of special 
revival in the church, and additions were received. 
From this time to 1821 was for the greatest part of 
the time a season of trial and discouragement, and 
at different periods the church sufi"ered considerable 
diminution, both from the disorderly walk of its mem- 
bers, and from difference of opinion in those who, it 
is to be hoped, remained steadfast in their profession. 
There were, however, occasional seasons of revival 
and some additions. 

The year 1821 was a season of more special reviv- 
al, and the prospects of the church seemed to bright- 
en, and additions were made. Eld. Pratt having re- 
moved, the church was supplied with occasional 
preaching from this time till 1834 by Elders S. and 
E. Hutchins, H. Chandler. S. Curtis, S. Hathern, 
and many others; Elder Johnson still remaining and 
taking the more particular oversight of the church. 

In 1831 a Union protracted meeting was held, 
commencing on the 22nd of August, which resulted 
in a very extensive revival, when very considerable 
additions were made to the several churches. On the 
22nd of September an invitation was extended to 



84 History of Farmington. 

Elder John Chany to pre.ach with them one half of 
the time and to take the oversight of the church, — 
a previous understanding having been had with Elder 
Johnson, — which invitation was accepted. During 
this season large accessions were made to the church 
at the center of the town, where, as well as in the 
lower part of the town, the church had for some time 
been increasing^ in numbers. For some vears the Sab- 
bath appointments and conferences had been divided 
and held alternately at the center and the upper parts 
of the town.^ but from this time the meetings were 
held on the Sabbath altogether at the Center Villlage, 
mostly at the Brick School House. 

In the following year, 1835, the society built the 
Meeting House now occupied by them, and Elder 
Chany soon after confined his labors w^holly to this 
church, with which he remained till June, 1840, 
when, at his request, he was dismissed, and Elder 
Dexter Waterman took his place, but preached to 
the church but half the time, the remaining half be- 
ing taken up in Phillips. This arrangement contin- 
ued till the spring of 1843, when at his request, he 
was dismissed and was succeeded by George W. 
Bean, who devoted his entire labor to this church 
from that time to July 1845. He was ordained on 
the 14th of June 1843. He was succeeded by Isaac 
Libby, the present occupant, who commenced his la- 
bors in May, 1846. 

Since 1834 the church has enjoyed several seasons 
of revival, and received additions, especially in the 
spring of lsi3. A revival then commenced in the 
upper part of the town under the improvement of 
Kev. Jabez Talbot Gay, which soon after extended 
to the center, and resulted in an extensive work in 
which all the churches shared, and in which consid- 
erable additions were made to this church. 

The church has suffered considerably both from re- 
movals and in tlie death of some of its most efficient 



History of i''ARMI^(iTON. 85 

members. It now numbers 79 members, but some 
25 of that number reside out of town, and are so sit- 
uated as not to enjoy the privilege of associating with 
the church, but have not found it convenient, or have 
not been disposed to unite with other churches. — 
The whole number received has been something over 
two hundred and twenty-five. 

110 — An E.dinol Freewill Baptist Church. 

About the year 1813 a small church was gather- 
ed in the south-west part of Farmington, known as 
the Second Freewill Baptist Church in Farmington, 
which, after existing for a few years, was disbanded. 
A part of its members were embodied in the Chris- 
tian Church in that vicinity, and others united with 
such Freewill Baptist churches as afforded local ac- 
commodations. [Knowlton's Corner was the central 
point of this Church.] 

Ill — Farmington Falls Freewill Baptist Church. 

Another Church has since been established at Farm- 
ington Falls, but as it is mostly made up of members 
in Chesterville v/e shall fobear giving its particular 
history. David Morrill, a licensed preacher, was one 
of the most active members from its organization to 
the date of his death, which occurred Dec. 28, 1842. 
This Church was small at the time of its organization, 
and remained so for some time. They were favored 
with a special revival in 184:1 and 1842, in which 
Elder Timothy Johnson took a conspicuous part, and 
where he removed his church relation, and where he 
has continued his labors the most of the time since. 
This Church now" numbers 28 members, and it is now 
nearly destitute of preaching. [After the publication 
of the first edition of Judge Parker's History, this 
church declined till it became extinct. The present 



86 History of Farmington. 

Farmington Falls Freewill Baptist Church is a more 
recent organization.] 

i 12— Methodists. 

At the New England Conference held at Lynn, 
Mass., in September of 1793, Jesse Lee. who had 
been the Pioneer of Methodism in New England, was 
appointed to travel in the then Province of Maine the 
ensuing year, and to form a circuit where he might 
think best. He preached his first sermon at Saco, 
Sept. 10, from Acts xiii; 41, "Behold, ye despisers, 
and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your 
days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, 
though a man declare it unto you." On the 13th 
of Oct. following, he preached at Hallo well, and on 
the loth at the house of Moses Starling, Esq., in this 
town, from Heb. iv; 1, " Let us therefore fear," &c. 
From thence he proceeded to visit nearly all the towns 
then settled, from the Androscoggin to the Penob- 
scot River. He formed a Circuit extending from Hal- 
lowell and Monmouth to Sandy River, and on his 
return to the Conference in 179-4, Philip Wager and 
Thomas Coop were appointed to take charge of it. 
The first Society formed in the Province of Maine 
was at Monmouth, on the 1st of Nov., 1794; the 2d 
in Readfield, and the third in Farmington, soon af- 
ter. Something over a year prior to this time a re- 
vival had commenced on the west side of the river, 
and a Freewill Baptist Church was organized. The 
reformation was becoming general, in every section 
of the country, and the new order of people seemed 
well prepared to assist in carrying forward the good 
begun work. A class was first formed on the west 
side of the river in the neighborhood of Mr. Gay, 
consisting of Jotham Smith and wife, Micah Weth- 
ern and wife, William Gay, John Austin and wife, 
and some others. Jotham Smith was appointed lead- 



History of Farmington. 87 

er. Immediately after another class was organized 
on the east side of the river, in the neighborhood of 
Elvaton Parker, who with his wife and most of his 
family became members, together with Mary and Pol- 
ly Brown, Eleazer Pratt of New Vineyard, and Jacob 
Chandler, Nabby Pease, Zilpha Green, Sally Gay, 
Patience Butler, and some others. 

Here a Sabbath appointment was established and 
continued for some years, at first at the dwelling- 
house of Mr. Brown, and afterwards at that of Mr. 
Parker. Wm. Gay was appointed leader of this class. 
It continued for some few years, when it became 
reduced by the death of some, and the removal of 
others, when the class was dissolved and the remain- 
ing members united with those on the west side of 
the river, which has ever continued its operations, 
and perhaps has been one of the most substantial and 
etficient in town. 

The Class at Farmino^ton Falls was organized in 
1798. Stephen Titcomb, Jonathan Knowlton, with 
many members of their families, John and Sarah 
Gower, Nathaniel Whittier, Desire Stinchfield, Ruth 
Whittier, and Jesse Ingham were among the first 
gathered in the place. 

At the Conference in 1795 Enoch Mudge, and Ell- 
as Hull were stationed on this Circuit, which com- 
J3rized four Sabbath appointments, viz: Monmouth, 
Readfield, Farmington, and Livermore, together with 
weekly appointments in most of the towns from Mon- 
mouth to the upper settlements on Sandy River. 

During this time a very efficient Class had been 
formed in Strong, consisting of William Reed, Eliab 
Eaton, Edward Flint, Richard Clark, and their wives, 
and many others. Another Class was organized at 
Avon, among the members of which were Joshua 
Soule, Moses Dudley, Ebenezer Thompson, with many 
of their families, and others. From this Class were 
soon raised up three acceptable preachers, viz: Josh- 
ua Soule Jr. Samuel Thompson, and Daniel Dudley, 



88 HisToPvV OF Farmington. 

the former of whom is now one of the acting Bish- 
ops of the Episcopal Methodist Church, resident in 
Ohio. 

This era of the Methodist Societies in Maine forms 
a striking contrast with the present. They not only 
had to contend with embarrassments incident to the 
formation of societies on new ground, but much of the 
country was little more than an unbroken v/ilderness. 
They traveled at ail seasons on horseback and not 
unfrequently by spotted lines, experiencing all the 
inconveniences incident to new settlements, which 
seenied only to nerve them up to more zealous exer- 
tions for tlie conversion of souls, and the building 
up of the church. 

The first Quarterl}^ Meeting in the State was held 
at Monmouth, on the 28rd of June, 1795, and the 
■first on the Sandy lliver in December following.— 
Jesse Lee was Presiding Elder, who continued in 
that station for some time, when he was succeeded by 
Joshua Taylor. Mr. Lee visited Maine in 1800, and, 
for the last time, in 1808. He preached his last 
discourse in this section at Farmington Falls, from 
Isaiah xxxiii; 18; — "Hear ye, that are afar oif, what 
I have done: and ye that are near, acknowledge my 
might. " After a rehearsal of the goodness of God 
in the conversion of souls, and the building up and 
spread of the societies, witnessed by himself, he pow-^ 
erfully enforced the exhortation of Joshua to the 
Children of Israel, "Now therefore fear the Lord, 
and serve him in sincerity and truth." 

Mr. Lee was born in Prince George County, Va. 
He entered the traveling connection in 1782, and first 
visited New England in 1789. At the Conference 
in New York in 1790 he was ordained Deacon, and 
then Elder, and appointed to travel in New England. 
In 1791 he was appointed Presiding Elder over the 
first New England District. He died at Hillsborough, 
on Annapolis Circuit. Dec. 12, 1816. He was a man 



History of Farmington. 89 

well qualified to fill the station he occupied, that of 
an itinerant preacher. Though a plain and pungent 
preacher he possessed an affable disposition, and was 
well calculated to disarm opposition in all its forms. 

The first Methodist Meeting House in this State 
was built in Readfield, and dedicated by Mr. Lee, 
on the 21st of June, 1795. In this house the first 
Conference was held Aug. 29, 179S, of which Fran- 
cis Asbury was Presiding Bishop. 

The Society at Farmington Falls proceeded to build 
a Meeting House about 1800, — -being the first in 
town, — where Sabbath appointments were established 
and continued with success for some time; but owing 
to various causes, the house was suffered to go to 
decay, and the Class became much reduced. 

In 1820 a Class was organized on Porter's Hill. 
Osgood Eaton, Job Brooks, "Wm. Russell, with their 
wives, and many of their families, were among the 
members. 

In 1831 the Brick Meeting House on the west side 
of the river was built, mostly by the Methodist Soci- 
ety, where they now have preaching half the time. 

Near this time a Class was organized at the Cen- 
ter Village, one in the eastern part of the town, one 
in the Holly, Neighborhood, and one at Backus' Cor- 
ner. 

This town and Vienna now form a Circuit, furnish- 
ing preaching alternately on the Sabbath, once in 
two weeks at the Brick Meeting House, once in four 
weeks at Farmington Falls, and at Vienna, and va- 
rious lectures through the week in the more remote 
sections of the towns. 

There are now six classes in town, viz: at Farm- 
ington Falls, the Center Village, Mosher Neighbor- 
hood, Holly Class, at Backus' Corner, the West Side 
of the River, and Porter s Hill, numbering, — after 
the formation of the Protestant and Wesleyan socie- 
ties in 1843, — 114. About 80 of this number were 



90 History of Farmington. 

members of the church, the remainder being members 
of classes on trial. 

Several preachers have been raised up, viz: Benj. F. 
Sprague, John Allen, Jabez Talbot Gay, who were 
successful preachers in the traveling connection, and 
John Gower, Joseph Russell, Jeremiah Butler, John 
Norton, andjMoses^Brown, who have acted in a local 
capacity. 

In the society's progress very many have been the 
changes as to the formation and alteration of classes 
and circuits and districts, but the Traveling Connec- 
tion has always furnished preaching to a greater or 
less extent. The societies have been occasionally fa- 
vored with special revivals, among which may be 
noticed those of 1794 and 5, 1808 and 9, 1821, 1824, 
and 1843, and others of less note. 

In looking back on the past we readily see that 
most of those who filled places of usefulness both 
in the ministry and membership, in the former part 
of that period of which we have been speaking, are 
gone the way of all the earth and their places are 
now filled by others ; while many who remain have 
shifted their fields of labor and usefulness, and their 
stations are supplied by new gifts. Among those who 
have labored successively for the edification of these 
societies, not already noticed, may be named Stebbins, 
Broadhead, Kibby, Heath, Stone, S. Hull, Williston, 
Searl, Hall, Bates, and many others, among whom 
ought not to be omitted the name of Eleazer Wells, 
who traveled in this district a number of years. It 
may be said of him as of Stephen, he was a "man 
full of faith and of the Holy Ghost' 

When attending a Quarterly Meeting it Strong on 
the 13th of July, 1823, it being a time of unusual 
drouth, and it seeming to all human appearance that 
sustenance for man and beast must fail unless pre- 
vented by an interposition of Divine Providence, — 
Mr. Wells was led to exercise unusual faith in pray- 



History of Farmington'! 91 

er for assistance in that time of distress, from that 
God who is wont to hear and answer the prayers of 
those who humbly and devoutly implore his assistance. 
At the close of his prayer he recommended the ob- 
servance of the 1 7th of that month as a day of fast- 
ing, humiliation and prayer, on account of the drouth. 
The day was religiously observed by many of the 
societies, and at its close a most refreshing rain com- 
menced, which resulted in again reviving the hopes 
of the husbandman, and enabled the earth to produce 
a plentiful harvest. 

1 1 3 — Baptists. 

The first preacher of the Baptist denomination 
known to have visited the Sandy River Valley was 
Rev. Eliphalet Smith, from Massachusetts. He was 
an itinerant preacher, and was engaged in a revival 
in what was then called Starling, now Fayette. He 
penetrated the then thinly settled region of country 
as far as this place, and attended some appoint- 
ments at the house of Moses Starling as early as 1792. 
A Church was that year organized at Fayette, being 
the fruits of the revival referred to. Mr. Smith was 
constituted its pastor. 

In the course of the winter following, Oliver Bil- 
lings, — since known as Elder Billings, — who had been 
a subject of the revival, and who had united with the 
newly constituted church in Fayette, made a visit to 
Farmington. His testimony to the truths of the gos- 
pel carried conviction to the hearts of several in the 
place, which was the commencement of one of the 
most extensive revivals ever known in this section of 
the country. It continued to progress through 1793, 
1794, and 1795. 

Most of the early converts in this revival were 
baptized and gathered into a church by Elder Lock, 
soon after, and united with the Freewill Baptists. 



92 History of Farmington. 

Some, howover, embraced Baptist sentiments and oc- 
casionally Baptist preaching was had in the town 
from Elders Smith, Case, Billings, and some others, 
but no church was organized till 1797, when a small 
church was gathered by Elders Case and Smith. It 
consisted at first of seven members. 

Among the first members were. Church Brainard, 
Abigail Brainard, Eliphalet Bailey, Joseph Fairbanks, 
and 'Abel Sweet of Farmington, and Wm. Bradbury, 
of Chesterville. Church Brainard was chosen Deacon. 
The church was furnished with but little ])reaching, 
and had but small accessions for some time, so that 
in .1807 it consisted of nine members only. 

About 1809 the place was again favored with a 
pretty extensive revival and an addition was made to 
the church of some thirteen members. 

In 1810, in consequence of some internal difficul- 
ties, the Church was dissolved, and a new church was 
organized— July 20, 1810— by the assistance of a 
Council called from the Churches in Fayette and Jay, 
and which consisted of Elder Oliver Billings and five 
others. The Church then contained eight male, and 
fourteen female members. Benj. Brainard was chos- 
en Clerk, and Isaac Thomas Deacon. Several others 
united with it soon after, among whom was Eliphalet 
Bailey who was appointed Deacon. 

From its first organization to 1821, a period of 
about 24 years, it received only occasional preaching 
by Messrs. Case, Smith, Billings', Briggs, Low, Board- 
man and some others. In 1816 the church was fa- 
vored with the labors of Elder Billings, to a consid- 
erable extent, which were greatly blessed to the 
edification of its members, and to the gathering in of 
a number who had not before made a public profes- 
sion of their faith in Christ. 

In 1821 Kev. Winthrop Morse from Massachusetts 
became pastor. The Church had then 52 members. 



History of Faraiington. 93 

but ill three years it was again left destitute of a 
pastor by the resignation of Mr. Morse. 

Their next minister was Rev. Hezekiah Hull from 
Nova Scotia, who labored with the Church accepta- 
bly in 1828 and 1829, and some additions were made. 
In 1834 a number were added as the fruit of a un- 
ion protracted meeting held in Aug. of that year. 
Eev. Nathan Mayhew preached the former part of 
the year, and Rev. Wm. Wyman the latter part of 
that year and a part of the succeeding year, one half 
the time, to the advantage of the Church. 

Jill this time the Church had been destitute of a 
suitable house for public worship. Their meetings 
were at first held in barns and dwelling houses, and 
subsequently in School Houses, in different neigh- 
borhoods, and a part of the time in what is now the 
Court House, which was for many years the only 
Meeting House in the center of the town, and which 
was_ owned by six or seven different societies. In 
1835 they erected a house for worship which was 
completed the following season. The expense of 
building the house was a source of some embarrass- 
ment to the Church, but from which they have near- 
ly recovered. The Church, however, continued to 
sustain preaching statedly, one half or three fourths 
OS the time, generally, till the settlement of Rev. 
Amaziah Joy as their pastor. He was ordained Dec. 
5, 1838, and continued his labors with the Church 
till Feb. 8, 1840, when he was dismissed. His place 
was supplied by Rev. Levi B. Hathaway, whose or- 
dination took place June 30, 1841. They were soon 
left destitute again, as Mr. Hathaway closed his pas- 
toral relation with them on the 30th of May, 1842. 
In September following the Church gave Rev. N. 
M. Williams a call to become their pastor for five 
years, which was accepted by him. Application was 
made to the Missionary Society for assistance in his 
support, which was afforded to some extent for one 
year. The Church continued to make provision for 



94 History of Farmington. 

his support year by year, by subscription, that being 
their usual metliod. 

In April following a union protracted meeting was 
held in the place, in which the Church took a part. 
A general revival ensued, and considerable additions 
were made to its numbers, as fruits of the revival, 
in the course of the season. Occasional additions 
have since been made by letter, and the Church now 
numbers about ninety. 

Mr. Williams continued his labors with the Church 
till the 3rd of May, 1846, being a period of nearly 
four years, when he presented a letter of resignation, 
which was accepted, and the Church is now destitute 
of a pastor. 

Cyrus Case, who united with the Church in 1835, 
was licensed to preach in 1840, and ordained as 
pastor of the First Baptist Church in Monmouth, in 
October, 1842. 

114 — Universalists. 



The first preacher of the Universalist denomination 
who visited this town, is thought to have been the 
Kev. Mr. Barns, and after him a Mr. Smith, and per- 
haps some others. In 1811 the Universalists obtain- 
ed an Act of Incorporation from the General Court 
of Massachusetts, by which they were denominated 
the "First Universalist Society in Farmington." 

This was the first incorporated society in town, and 
it consisted of fifty members who principally resided 
in the lower part of the town. They were organized 
Sept. 2, 1811 by making choice of Jeremiah Stinch- 
field for Clerk, Benj. Weathern, Reuben Lowell, and 
Jeremy Wyman for Assessors, Wm. Gould for Treas- 
urer, and Reuben Lowell Jr. for Collector. At the 
same meeting, Thomas Gorden, Reuben Lowell, and 
Horatio G. Quincy were appointed delegates to rep- 
resent the society in the General Convention to be 



History of Farmington. 95 

held at Freeport on the second Wednesday of that 
month. They took immediate measnres to raise funds 
by an assessment of one hundred dollars on the polls 
and estates of the society, for the support of preach- 
ing. The Rev. Mr. Root appears to have been em- 
ployed for one third of the time. In 1812 the Gen- 
eral Convention was held at Farmington for the first 
time. 

From that time to 182-i preaching was furnished 
for a part of the time only, as contr;icts were made 
from time to time; but at this time Wm. A. Drew 
united with them and soon after commenced preach- 
ing, and being a young man of talent he soon became 
an able speaker. He however soon removed, and 
has since confined his labors mostly to the County of 
Kennebec, where he has acted a prominent part, 
both as a preacher and as editor of a paper devoted 
to the interests of the denomination and to other 
useful objects. 

Soon after this period the Rev. Zenas Thompson 
settled with this society and continued his labors for 
some time. The Society up to this time, had received 
additional members to the amount of 38, making 88 
in the whole, which number had been diminished by 
deaths, removals and dismissions to about 70. 

In 1829 the state of the Society having become 
somewhat unpromising, it was thought best to organ- 
ize a new Society as the First Universalist Society in 
Farmington and Vicinity, which was done under the 
then existing law, by a Warrant from a Justice of the 
Peace, on the petition of Wm. Gould and sixteen 
other individuals, desirous thus to be embodied, who 
met at the Schoolhouse near Reuben Butterfield's, on 
the 29th of June, 1829. Gen. Wm. Gould was chos- 
en Moderator, and Zenas Thompson. Clerk. The 
meeting was then adjourned to the first Wednesday 
in Sept. at which meeting ten additional members were 
received, and the following officers were chosen, viz: 
John Russ, James Butterfield, and Lemuel Bursley, 



96 History of Fahmington. 

Assessors; Nathaniel Whittier, Collector; Moses But- 
terfield, Treasurer; and Leonard Billings, Ira Morse, 
and Wm. Goiild, Standing Committee. The Society 
voted that the annual meetings should be held in 
March, or April, and also to raise tho; sum of one 
hundred doUars for she support of preaching for the 
year. Mr. Thompson's labors were continued with 
the Society till April 27, 1833, when his pastoral re- 
lation with the Society was by his request dissolved. 
Since this time preaching on the Sabbath has been 
continued but a part of the time. 

In 1832 the society received in securities from the 
first Parish in the town the amount of $63(3 17, being 
the proceeds of the funds arising from the lands ap- 
propriated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
for the use of the ministry, and for the first settled 
minister, an arrangement having been made by which 
the funds were divided equally between the six dif- 
ferent religious societies in town. The organization 
of this society has beeii regularly kept up, '^ and the 
expenses have been borne by regular assessments, 
from the interest of the fund, and by vohmtary con- 
tributions or subscription. 

1 1 5 — Gongregationalisis. 

The first preaching in Farmington was by the Con- 
gregationalists. Rev. Mr. Emerson, of Georgetown, 
in this State, who visited the place some time previ- 
ous to 1788, preached the first sermon in Mr. ^ Tit- 
comb's log house, and baptized his child, being the 
first born, and the first baptized in this town. 

In 1790 the place was visited by Rev. Mr. Little, 
then pastor of a church in Kennebunk, who was 
employed by the Massachusetts Missionay Society as 
a missionary. For several years succeeding the Rev. 
Jotham Sewall of Chesterville, and Rev. Samuel Sew- 
all, then of the south -westerly part of this town. 



History of P'armington. 97 

supplied those who preferred Congregational preach- 
ing, either by the aid of tlie Society or by the volun- 
tary contributions of the people. In the early part 
of the present century, Rev. Jonathan Burr, who af- 
terwards settled at Sandwich, Mass., supplied the 
people for one season if not longer. In 1804 Rev. 
Mr. Gould preached with them as a missionary from 
Massachusetts. In 1805 Rev. Mr. Marcy labored 
here as a missionary from the Massachusetts Mission- 
ary Society. 

From 180G to 1812 Rev. Jotham Sewall furnished 
the principal supply. He was so well received that 
upon his exchanging for a season with Rev. Mr. 
Cox of New Hampshire, Mr. Starling remarked, — 
"We paid Mr. Sewall for wheat, and he has given 
us oats." 

A Congregational Church was early organized in 
Chesterville, with which those of that denomination 
in this town united, and remained till a chifi'ch was 
formed here in 1814. In 1813 Rev. Fifield Holt 
came here from Andover Theological Seminary, Mass. 
He was a good man and deservedly popular. He af- 
terwards also preached occasionally in the place, and 
exercised a kind of pastoral supervision over the in- 
terests of the denomination till the settlement of Mr. 
Rogers. 

In 1814 Mr. Hezekiah Hall preached in Farming- 
ton and vicinity. He was a man of ready talent, and 
very fluent and copious in his words, and logical in 
his discourses, but he had many eccentricities, and 
so many and glaring faults, that although he was sub- 
sequently settled in New Sharon, he remained there 
but nine months. 

In the years 1816, 1817, 1819, 1823, 1824, and 
1825, Rev. John H. Ingraham, Rev. Thomas Adams, 
Rev. Elijah Jones, Rev. Seneca White, Rev. George 
W. Campbell, and Rev. Daniel D. Tappan labored 
here as missionaries for considerable periv)ds of time, 
and others who came then and previously labored for 



98 History of Farmington. 

shorter periods. To three of these — E,ev. Messrs. 
Adams, White and Campbell, either overtures for 
settlement were extended, or movements to that ef- 
fect were made, but were not successful. The im- 
mediate predecessor of the present pastor, in mission- 
ary labors, was Rev. Filield Holt, of Bloomfield, in 
this State. He closed his services in the fall of 1S25, 
and died a few years after at the age of 48. 

Rev. Isaac Rogers, the present pastor, came here 
in Nov. 1825, and was ordained as Pastor of the 
First Congregational Church, on the 9th of March. 
1826. 

At this time the only house for religious worship 
at the Center was what is now the Court House. 
That was then owned and liable to be occupied by 
six or seven denominations. For five years Mr. R. 
preached in Farmington three-fourths of the time, 
and the other fourth in Wilton and vicinity. The 
old Meetini; House, beiu": owned with others could 
not always be occupied by him even that part of the 
time. Hence they occupied school houses and dwel- 
ling houses, in different parts of the town, and they 
not unfrequently held interesting and profitable meet- 
ings in the Hall of the Academy, which is now de- 
nominated the Chapel. In 1831-2 a new building 
was erected by Deacon Nathaniel Green, for the 
purpose of a High School. Through his gener- 
osity this afforded a quite convenient place of worshp 
for several years. The Congregationalists occupied 
the old Meeting House half the time, which was 
something less than the amount owned by the Soci- 
ety entitled them to. The building erected by Dea. 
Green is that recently occupied by S. G. Lsdd Esq. 
as a hardware store. 

In ]837 the neat and convenient house of worship 
which the Society now occupies was dedicated to the 
service of Almighty God. Since that time their meet- 
ings have been stated and regular, and exceedingly 



History of Farmington. 99 

well attended. The Church was organized Dec. 14, 
1814. It then consisted of twelve members; viz; — 

Thomas Wendell, Prudence Minot, 

Abraham Smith, Dorothy Townsend, 

Luther Townsend, Mary Bailey, 

Ebenezer B. Wellman, Mary Case, 

Harrison Allen, Hannah C. Beale, 

Mehetable Titcomb, Susannah Richardson. 

The Deacons have been Abraham Smith, chosen 
1814; Hebron Mayhew, chosen 1815, died Dec. 1826; 
Nathaniel Green, chosen 1828, dismissed 1845; Thos. 
Hunter, Chosen 1836. Thos. Wendell, the present 
Clerk, was chosen in Jan. 1818, 

The church had increased at the time of the pres- 
ent pastor's ordination to not far from fifty who had 
been admitted, but by deaths and dismissions this 
number was diminished to forty. Some small addi- 
tions were made to the Church in the years 1826 
and 1827, but its greatest times of enlargement have 
been in connection with three seasons of deep and 
general religious interest, with which it has pleased 
God to favor the place since that period. These were 
in the years 1828, 1834, 1842, and 1843, and at 
these several periods, not far from 120 were added to 
their numbers by profession and letter, and upwards 
of 30 have been added since. 

There have been connected with this Church since 
its organization not far from 207 members. Of these 
upwards of 157 have been added under the present 
pastor. Of the whole number 38 have died, 42 have 
been dismissed to other churches, and four have been 
excommunicated. The present number is 122. Not 
far from 20 of these, however, reside in other plac- 
es, while not far from 10 members of Congregational 
Churches in other places reside in town and attend 
on Mr. Rogers' ministry. 



100 History of Farmington. 

116 — Christian Church. 

On the 22nd of Dec. 1822 a number of professed 
Christians in the south-west part of the town, of 
different societies, but principally Freewill Baptists, 
met and formed an association for their mutual edi- 
fication as Christians, to promote their spirituality, 
and to adopt measures to extend the cause of the 
Redeemer on the earth — but without the intention of 
forming a distinct or separate church — but from have 
ing been impressed with the necessity of all the fol- 
lowers of Christ being knit together, in the spirit of 
love, as far as their locality Avould permit, without 
references to differences of opinion in things which 
they did not consider essential to their fellowship as 
Christians. They proceeded to establish monthly or 
conference meetings, which were constantly attended 
from 1822 to 1832, with a few exceptions. They 
entered into an agreement that they would watch over 
each other, not for their halting, but for their fur- 
therance in the divine life — that they would take the 
Scriptures for their rule of faith and practice, invit- 
ing all of every name and denomination, who sincere- 
ly love God and wish for the promation of Prince 
Immanuel, to unite with them for the purposes re- 
ferred to. It was further sigreed that all such as might 
unite with them, should have the privilege of retain- 
ing their standing in whatever church they might be . 
attached to, and to help or receive help, from any 
C'hristian church or society, but were required to at- 
tend, as far as consistent, all church or conference 
meetings appointed by the society. 

They continued to have accessions to their num- 
bers from different denominations, and some who had 
not attached themselves to any church, who signed 
the preceding agreement, so that their numbers in- 
creased to some 60 or 70. During this ]jeriod preach- 
ers of various denominations occasionally held meet- 
ings in the neighborhood where their conferences were 



History or Farmington. 101 

held, but mostly of the Christian connection. On 
exchange of views with preachers of the last named 
denomination it was found that their views and prac- 
tices agreed with the vieAvs of most of the Society, 
and thinking it might be for their furtherance in the 
gospel, they appointed delegates to the Christian Ken- 
nebec Conference, held at Monmouth, on the 13th 
of Oct. 1H32, who bore a request for their admission 
to fellowship with that body, upon which they were 
received. 

On the :30th of April 1835 Elder Peter Young, 
formerly from York, in this State, united with this 
Church, and became its paster, and was much esteem- 
ed. His labors were blessed to the edification of 
the Church, and considerable additions were made 
during his ministry, which was continued most of the 
time till his death, being about three years. In April 
1835 a number were dismissed for the purpose of 
forming another Church in .Jay, who, with others, 
were soon after embodied in a Church of the same 
order. Mr. Young died at his residence in Chester- 
ville. May 24, 1838. when the Church was left des- 
titute of a pastor. In Oct. 1838, Elder Jonathan 
Bradley of Vienna, was received into the Church and 
assumed the pastoral charge, and preached with the 
Church occasionally. He died Oct. 21, 1839. The 
Church remained destitute of a pastor till March 23, 
1841, when Elder Daniel Rogers, from New Hamp- 
shire, united with the Church, took the oversight, 
and proached with them the principal part of the 
time. Under his labors there was some revival, and 
additions were made to the Church. He continued 
his labors about three years, and then returned to 
New Hampshire. He was a man who possessed the 
confidence and esteem of the Church, and of most 
of those who knew him. Some two or three years 
since, some fifteen members withdrew on account of 
some difference of opinion, and a number having 



102 History of Farmiinoton. 

moved away, and some having died, the Church is 
now reduced to about 30 members, whose local situ- 
ation is rather scattering. Since Mr. Rogers left, 
Elder Henry Frost has preached occasionally with the 
Church. They are at present destitute of stated 
meetings for religious worship. John F. Woods is 
the only one who now remains of the original mem- 
bers. 

1 i1 .— Unitarians. 

The first Unitarian Society in Farmington was or- 
ganized Feb. 27, 1S30, on the petition of the follow- 
ing individuals, who constituted the original mem- 
bers; viz: Nathan Cutler, Asa Abbott Jr., Henry Tit- 
comb, Joseph Johnson, Isaac Tyler, Argalis Pease, 
Robert W. Tobey, Henry Stewart, John A. Stoyell, 
Wm. H. Johnson, E. Gilman Rosson, and Thomas 
AVilliams. — Wm. H. Johnson was chosen Clerk, and 
Isaac Tyler, Treasurer, and Henry Titcomb, Argalis 
Pease, and Henry Stewart a Standing Committee for 
the year. Asa Abbot Jr. was appointed agent to re- 
ceive the society's proportion of the ministerial fund. 
Nathan Cutler was chosen Treasurer in 1831, and 
A. H. Stewart Clerk in 1833, which offices they have 
filled to the present time. They soon after received 
considerable accession of numbers, and they proceed- 
ed by an arrangement with the Trustees of the Acad- 
emy, to fit up the upper story of the Academy Build- 
ing, for the accommodation of meetings for public 
worship, and which answered conveniently for the 
purpose, and which has since been known as "The 
Chapel." In 1836 the Rev. Thomas Beede, Abigail 
Beede, Hannah R. Beede, Elizabeth Moore. Deborah 
Belcher, x\nn B. Titcomb, Caroline W. Belcher, and 
Josiah Prescott were received as members of the So- 
ciety. Mr. Beede was employed to preach with them, 
which he continued to do for some time. He was 
supported by subscription, and the Interest arising 



History of Farmington. [ 103 

from the share of the mmisterial fund received from 
the town. Since Mr. Beede left they have not had 
stated preaching. Small appropriations have been 
made from the interest arising from the funds, for 
the purchase of tracts and books for gratuitous dis- 
tribution — otherwise the interest has been added to 
the principal, which has considerably increased. The 
whole number of members received into the society 
appears to be 'S6. From deaths, removals, and other 
causes, the number has been somewhat reduced. The 
Society now numbers 23. 

118 — Protestant Methodists. 

A Protestant Methodist Society was formed in the 
upper part of the town, Jan. 17, 1843, by Benjamin 
Dodge, who had formerly been an ordained local 
preacher in the Episcopal Methodist Church, but who 
had subsequently united witli the Protestant Method- 
ists in Massachusetts, in the same capacity. The first 
organization embraced five persons; viz: Benj. Dodge, 
Richard H. Dorr, Nathan Davis, Moses Brown, and 
Stephen WilHams. Jabez T. Gay and Marchant 
Holly united immediately after. A religious revival 
soon after commenced in the neighborhood, which 
extended to the Center Village and into other sections 
of the town. About 70 were received into the Soci- 
ety, which was divided into several Classes, most of 
which remain, and which contain at the present 
time about 35 members. The Protestant Methodists 
have at the present time four ordained preachers; 
viz: Benj. Dodge, Richard H. Dorr, Nathan Davis, 
and jMarchant Holly. Jabez Talbot Gay united with 
this Society immediately after its formation, and act- 
ed a very conspicuous part in the reformation to which 
we have alluded. He was a man of undoubted Chris- 
tian character, thougn possessed of some eccentrici- 
ties. He possessed an acceptable gift, and was un- 
usually devoted to the work of preaching the gospel, 



104 History of Farmington. 

to which caUing he devoted himself without reserve. 
The interest which he felt iu the salvation of his fel- 
low men, and his incessant labors in the ministry, no 
doubt served to hasten his early death. He died in 
Feb., 1845, at the age of 35. 

119— Wesleyan Methodists. 

In March, 1843, a Wesleyan Methodist Society 
was formed on the west side of the river, consisting 
of Moses Lufkin of Strong, Joseph Russell, Peter 11. 
Tufts and wife, Ira Sprague and wife, Daniel Stan- 
ley and wife, Matthias S. Norcross and wife, Andrew 
Tuck and Daniel York of this town — twelve in all. 
Peter R. Tufts was appointed Leader, and at the en- 
suing Conference, Benjamin Bullock was stationed 
with the Society for hiilf the time, where he contin- 
ued for the two years following, and occasionally 
since, occupying the Brick Meeting House alternately 
with the Episcopal Methodists. Messrs. Russell, Luf- 
kin, and E. Pope have occasionally supplied the lat- 
ter part of the time. Some additions have since 
been made, and the society now numbers about 20. 



SKETCHES OF NEIGHBORING TOWNS. 



120 — New Sharon. 



Mr. Prince Baker 

Was the first settler in the town of New Sharon. 
He was a native of Pembroke, Mass., from which 
place he removed to Readfiekl, in this State, at an 
early day, and from there to what is now New Sha- 
ron, in 1782. Nathaniel Tibbits, Benjamin Cham- 
bers, Benjamin Rollins, James Howes, and Samuel 
Prescott 1st, were amoui^ the first settlers in that town. 



History of Farmington. 105 

The township was purchased of the State by Prince 
Baker, Feb. U, 1791. It contains 28,600 acres. The 

Mills at the Falls 

Were first built by Abel Baker, in 1801. They 
afterwards passed into the hands of Francis Mayhew, 
and were rebuilt by him and much improved. The 
water power privilege at the Falls is a superior one, 
and the location possesses many advantages for a 
business place. It has a Grist Mill, a Saw Mill, a 
Shingle Machine, Starch Factory, one or more Tan- 
neries, a Fulling Mill, a Carding Machine, a number 
of Blacksmith's Shops, and most kinds of Mechanics, 
a number of stores, two Lawver s Offices, and 

Four Meeting Houses, 

Baptist, Methodist, Congregationalist and Univer- 
salist. The Freewill Baptists have a Meeting House 
in the south part of the town, and there is a free 
Meeting House at 

Weeks' Mills, 

In the North-west part of the town, where there 
is a set of Mills, a Starch Factory, and a considera- 
ble village. [The mills at Weeks' Mills have since 
been abandoned, as well as both the Starch Factories. 
Of the six meeting houses the Baptist has been aban- 
doned and the Universalist purchased by the Congre- 
gationalists for a Vestry. Another Saw Mill has been 
erected below Weeks' Mills, and the chair and car- 
riage manufacturing business have grown into import- 
ance.] 

The Bridge 

Was built about 1809 or 1810, and has since been 
rebuilt with permanent stone abutments, and covered. 

Incorporation — Valuation — -Soil — Fire. 

New Sharon was incorporated June 20, 1794. In 
1840 it contained 1820 inhabitants — 819 polls — val- 



106 History of Farmington. 

nation as corrected by the Legislature, |286,890. — 
The town possesses a variety of excellent soil and has 
an advantage in location over most of the towns in 
the County as to access to market and water commu- 
nication. A large and convenient Meeting House, 
built by the different religious societies, about 1816, 
on the site now occupied by the Congregational Meet- 
ing House, was burned in April, 1842. 

121 — JAY. 

Name — Incorporation. 

Jay, which takes its name from Hon. John Jay, 
was incorporated Feb. 26, 1795. It was formerly 
known as Phipps' Canada, and was granted to 

Capt. Josiah Phipps 

And 63 others, for services in the French War of 
1755. It was a large township situated on both sides 
of the Androscoggin, and embracing 27,200 acres, 
about one third of which, lying on the west side of 
the River, was incorporated into a town by the name 
of Canton in 1821. By the grant it was to be divid- 
ed into rights of 400 acres each, one to be reserved 
for Harvard College, one for the first settled minister, 
one for the use of the ministry, and one for the use 
of schools. It was early surveyed and divided into 
lots of 100 acres each, -a settling committee was ap- 
pointed by the associates, who subsequently purchas- 
ed the whole, and so managed the business that the 
original owners received little or no benefit from the 
grant. 

First Settlers. 

Actual settlements were not commenced till after 
the Hevolutionury^War. Simon Coolidge, Dea. Oli- 
ver Fuller, Samuel Eustis, Scarborough Parker, Mo- 
ses Crafts, Isaac West, Thos.^, Fuller, Joseph Hyde, 



History of Farmington. 107 

Nathl. Jackson. Samuel Jackson, Wm. Godding, and 
James Adkinson were some of the first settlers. — 
There is something of a village on what is called 

Jay Hill, 

Where James Starr Esq., now a resident of the 
place settled as early as 1802. Here are two Stores, 
a Tavern, Meeting House, &c. 

Jay Bridge — Mills. 

Near Jay Hill there is a toll bridge across the An- 
droscoggin, where a first rate Grist Mill and a Saw 
Mill were put in operation in 1846. There is also a 
Meeting House in the northern part of the town, and 
another in the more easterly part. This town has 
derived little benefit from water power or floating 
capital, but was settled by, and possesses a population 
of industrious, independent yeomanry. There is al- 
so a small village known as 

Bean's Corner, 

In the north-east section of the town, where sev- 
eral sons of the late Friend Bean of Readfield, settled 
at an early day. [A fine union Meeting House has 
since been erected at Bean's Corner.] 

Religious History. 

At first the people of Jay had only occasional 
preaching from traveling preachers. A Baptist Church 
was organized in 1799, which became large and flour- 
ishing. Joseph Adams, one of its members, became 
its first pastor in 1804, where he continued his la- 
bors some 14 years with success. He was followed 
by Rev. E. Nelson in 1821, who continued 3 years. 
In 1824 the Church had 153 members. In 1826 it 
became divided in opinion, and nearly one third of 
the members were excluded. The excluded portion 
formed a second Church. Since this they have been 
supplied by various preachers, as employed from time 



l^'S History of Farmington. 

to time. Some six Baptist ministers have been raised 
up from this Church. There is also a considerable 
Methodist Society, who have stated preachini^, and 
two small Freewill Baptist Churches. In 1840 the 
town had 1750 inhabitants, and 290 polls.— The val- 
uation in 1 842, as corrected by the lesrislature, was 
1239,077. 

122 — STRONG. 

Early Settlers — Wm. Reed — DEscRiFnoN. 

^ The first settlement in Strong — formerly Middle- 
Town— was made as early as 1784, by Wm. Reed, 
from Nobleborough, in this State. He' was followed 
by Edward Flint, John Day, David and Joseph Hum- 
phrey, Jacob Sawyer, Wm. Hiscock, Benjamin Dodge, 
Timothy Merry, Eliab Eaton, Peter Patterson, Rob- 
ert McLeery, and Ellsworth, all from the same 

vicinity. The first framed barn was put up by Mr. 
Reed, in 1786-7, and his house — the first framed 
house— in 1791-2. The inhabitants of the town, as 
well as those located higher up the river, frequently 
had to go to Winthrop ^to mill, and to use mortars 
for some years. Richard Clark and Joseph Kersey 
settled in Strong about 1792. The township was 
purchased of the State by an Association, of which 
Wm. Reed was one, and who acted as agent in the 
purchase and survey of the Town. The State reserv- 
ed one lot for Pierpole, on which he had settled, af- 
ter leaving Farmington Falls. He put up the second 
framed house, where he remained till 1801, when he 
went to Canada with his family. Strong is situated 
directly north of Farmington, on the Sandy River. 
It embraces a territory of seven miles from north to 
south, and five from east to west. The soil is strong 
and fertile, though the surface is somewhat uneven. 
It has a considerably large pond in the eastern ex- 
tremity, at the outlet of which a Saw Mill and Clover 
Mill, built and owned bv Alexander Porter, are situ- 



History of Farmington. 109 

ated. There is a Grist Mill on the Sandy River, 
and on the North-east Branch of the Sandy' River a 
Grist Mill, Saw Mill, Fulling Mill, CJarding Machine, 
Starch Factory, Tannery, and various kinds of Me- 
chanic Shops, and a very pretty village containing a 
number of Stores, a Post Office, Lawyers Offiice, 
Meeting Flouse, and two Taverns. Just below the 
village there is a Bridge across the Sandy River. At 
the lower part of the town there is also a Meeting 
House, and one in the easterly section, all of which 
were mostly built, and are chiefly occupied by the 
Episcopal Methodists. There is a Meeting House in 
the north-east part of the town which was built by 
the Congregationalists, and which they occupy. 

William Reed 

Was early commissioned a Justice of the Peace, 
and held many important offices till near the close of 
life. He was a man of more than ordinary talent 
and possessed the confidence and esteem of all who 
knew him. His house was ever the home of the trav- 
eler, and his hands were ever open to the wants of 
the needy. His house was burned in April, 1823, 
which was the cause of his instant death. 

Name, Incorporation, &c. 

Strong was incorporated, Jan. 31, 1801, taking the 
name of Strong from the circumstance of the Act of 
Incorporation being the first act of the kind which 
bore the signature of Caleb Strong, who was for ma- 
ny years Governor of Massachusetts. In 1840 Strong 
contained 1109 inhabitants, and 155 polls. Its val- 
cation as corrected by the Legislature of 1842 is 
58,989 dollars, 

1 23— CHESTER VILLE. 

First Settlement and Settlers. 

The first settlement in Chesterville was made by 
Abraham Wyman in 1782. Hummer Sewall 2d, 



110 History of Farmington. 

and Samuel Linscott commenced in 1783 near the 
Lower Mills. Rev. Jotham Sewall, Elder Edward 
Locke and others, moved into the town soon after. 

Mills, Village, Streams, Ponds, &c. 

The Mills at the Center were first built in 1785. 
There is now a considerable village at the place. 
The Saw Mills have afforded more pine lumber than 
any other in this section of country, a considerable 
part of the territory having been partially covered 
with a growth of pine. At this village there is a 
Meeting House, Starch Factory, one or more Stores, 
and Mechanics of various trades. There is also a Saw 
Mill at the southerly part of the town, and one at 
Farmington Falls. At Keith's Mills there is a Grist 
Mill, a Fulling Mill and a Carding Machine. Shin- 
gle Machhies are attached to nearly all the Saw Mills. 
Chesterville is situated south of Farmington and is 
watered by Wilson's Stream, the Little Norridgewock, 
McGurdy's Stream, the Sandy River and a number 
of ponds. The territory does not conveniently accom- 
modate public meetings, as the town is some ten or 
twelve miles in length, and in width narrow and ir- 
regular. It has several excellent ridges of land for 
farming, and the town produces some of the best 
neat stock in the country. The population in 1840 
was 1098, and the number of polls 197. The valua- 
tion in 1842 was 142,359 dollars Chesterville was 
incorporated Feb. 20, 1802. The title was derived 
from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the 
township contains 19,000 acres. 

124— AVON. 

De?cription, Settlement, Settlers, ect. 

The Town of Avon— formerly called Upper Town, 

lies still higher up the Sandy River, and westerly of 

Strong; the Sandy River passing through the town in 

a nearly south-east direction. Settlements commenced 



History of Farminqton. Ill 

in Avon about the same time as in Strong. [1784.] 
Capt. Joshua Soule, from Damariscotta River, and 
Capt. Perkins Allen, from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., 
moved into town prior to 1784. They were followed 
by Moses Dudley, Ebenezer Thompson, Mark Whit- 
ten, Thomas Humphrey, Charles Dwelley, and Samu- 
el and Jesse Ingham. The southern and western 
parts of Avon are somewhat uneven and not wholly 
settled. The summit of Mount Blue is near the south- 
west corner. There is a small village in the easterly 
part of the town, where there was formerly a bridge 
across the Sandy River, which is a place of some 
trade. There are two Saw Mills on a small stream 
on the west side of the river, Avon was incorporat- 
ed Feb. 22, 1842. It had 828 inhabitants in 1840, 
and 141 polls. Valuation in 1842, 79,730 dollars. 
[Avon has no Meeting House, nor does it particular- 
ly need one, as its inhabitants are mostly accommo- 
dated by Meeting Houses at short distances from the 
boundary lines in Phillips, Strong and Freeman.] 

125— NEW VINEYARD. 

Purchase — Name — Early Settlers. 

The town of New Vineyard was purchased of the 
State by an Association of individuals of Martha's 
Vineyard, Mass., together with Jonathan Knowlton, 
of Farraingtou, who acted as their agent. After the 
survey it was divided by lot among them. Nearly 
all the first settlers were from Martha's Vineyard, and 
hence it took the name of New Vineyard from the 
commencement of its settlement^ and was incorporat- 
ed by that name, Feb. 22. 1802. Daniel Collins and 
Abner Norton commenced improvements and remov- 
ed their families into town in the Fall of 1791. They 
were the only families who wintered in the place 
the following Winter. The first crops were raised 
in 1792. Thev were soon after followed bv Samuel 



112 History of Farmington. 

Daggett, Jonathan Merry, James Manter, Ephraim 
Butler, John Spencer, Cornelius Norton, David Da- 
vis, John Daggett, Benjamin Benson, Joseph Smith, 
Henry Butler, Herbert Boardman, Charles Luce, 
Henry Norton, Wm. Farrand, Seth Hillman, Ezra 
Winslow, and Calvin Burden. Settlements north of 
the mountains were commenced soon after by people 
mostly from Middleborough, Mass., among whom 
were George Pratt, Eleazer Pratt, Paul Pratt, Elias 
Bryant, Simeon Hackett, Jabez Vanghan, Zephaniah 
Morton, and Benaiah Pratt. 

Change of Boundary — Description — Mills. 

That part called the Gore has since been set off 
to Industry, and besides which the town comprised a 
territory of six miles square. The south-easterly part, 
embracing about one-fourth part of the town, has 
been more recently set oil, and now forms a part of 
Industry. The town has quite a range of mountains 
extending nearly across the town from east to west, 
near the center, dividing the waters of the Sandy 
Biver from those of the Seven Mile Brook. The soil 
is generally good, especially in the northerly and 
easterly sections. The principal stream is the outlet 
of Porter's Pond in Strong, which discharges into the 
Seven Mile Brook, and o'n which are a number of 
valuable mill sites. A first rate Grist Mill, two Saw 
Mills, a Clover Mill, a Shingle Machine, and vari- 
ous other kinds of machinery, two INIeeting Houses, 
one Store, a number of Mechanic's Shops and Dwel- 
ling Houses form a considerable village, which has 
been called Vaughan's Mills. The mills are now 
owned by Messrs. Luce and Stewart. New Vineyard 
is situated east of Strong and north of Industry, and the 
place of business is about nine miles from the Court 
House. It had a population of 927 in 1810. The 
valuation in 1842 amounted to 94,408 dollars. But 
the popuhxtion and the valuation have both been re- 
duced by the transfer of tf^rritory to Industry. 



History of Farmington. 118 

UU— INDUSTRY. 

Industry was formed from a remnant of the north- 
west corner of the Plymouth Patent or Kennebec Pur- 
chase. It is situated easterly of Parraington, and is 
bounded on the west by that town and New Sharon, 
north by New Vineyard — a part of which has been 
set off to Industry. The first settlements in the town 
were made by James and John Thompson, Zoe Withe, 
Thomas Johnson, and Wm. Allen, about 1793 or 
1794. Benjamin Cottle, Daniel Luce, Peter Daggett, 
Jabez N'jrton, Peter West, James AVinslow, John 
(iower and Lemuel Howes were also early settlers. 
The lands were first taken u]) as each individual chose 
to select, and held by possession, and afterwards pur- 
chased of those claiming proprietorship under the 
original purchase. Bull Horse, or Clear Water Pond, 
Situated in the north-west corner of the town, af- 
fords an excellent stream of water, on which are a 
first rate Grist Mill, a Sa^v Mill, Tannery, and Starcli 
Factory, which, with a Store and a number of Me- 
chanics' Shops, form a place of considerable business, 
near the outlet of the Pond. The mills were first 
built by Hufus Davis, and passed into the hands of 
James Gower, and from him to the present owners, 
Benj. and N. T. Allen. A set of mills was built in 
the north-east part of the town by Peter West, at the 
time of the first settlement of the place, where there 
is now a considerable village. They have a Meeting 
house, (Methodist,) Fulling Mill, Carding Machine, a 
number of Stores and Shops, and the village is known 
as West's Mills. There is also a union Meeting 
Flouse at the center of the town, and one in the 
Thompson Neighborhood in the eastern part of the 
otwn, owned by the Methodists. The town was in 
corporated June 20, 1803; had 1035 inhabitants in 
1810, and 181 polls. The valuation in 18-12 was 
139,067 dollars. There are four churches in town; 
viz: Methodist, Baptist, Congregationalist and Free- 
will Baptist. 



114 History of Farmington. 

127— TEMPLE. 

The town of Temple lies west of Farmiugtoii and 
north of Wilton, and was incorporated June W, 1803. 
Temple and Wilton take their names from two towns 
in New Hampshire similarly situated, and from which 
many of the early settlers emigrated. Temple was 
formerly known as Number One of Abbott's Purchase. 
The first settlements were commenced about 1795. 
Josepii Holland and Samuel Briggs were the two 
first who moved into the place. They were soon fol- 
lowed by James Tattle, Moses Adams, John Kenney, 
Jonathan Ballard, Wra. Drury, Asa Mitchell, Samu- 
el Lawrence, Messrs. Farmer, Tripp, and Poor, and 
Gedeon and George Staples. Mr. Tuttle, who set- 
tled at the center of the town, was soon succeeded 
by Benjamin Abbott, Esq., who was one or the most 
useful and respected citizens in the place. He died 
in 1823, at the age of 53. Temple, at the commence- 
ment of its settlement, was owned by Benj. Phillips, 
of Boston, but was surveyed and settled under the 
agency of Jacob Abbott, Esq., late of Brunswick in 
this State, who subsequently purchased the residue 
of Mr. Phillips' eastern lands. Temple is somewhat 
mountainous, embracing quite a portion of the Blue 
ridge, but is good for grazing, and is said to furnish 
the best of sheep. The town is watered principally 
by the Starling or Davis' Mill Stream, on which there 
is a Grist Mill, and some two or three Saw Mills, 
a Starch Factory and a Machine Shop. Temple has 
two Meeting BLouses — Congregational and Methodist. 
[Since another, a Freewill Baptist.] Stated meetings 
have been continued from near the first settlement, 
by the Congregationalists, Methodists, and also by 
the Freewill Baptists. There has been one or two 
stores kept at the Mills for some years, where there 
is something of a village, and several mechanics. — 
The population in 1840 was ^oo; polls, 149. Valu- 
ation 111 1S4'<^, |b0,504, 



HrsTORY OF Farmington. 115 

128— WILTON. 

The town of Wilton — formerly called Tyngtown — 
was granted to Capt. Tyng, and a company under 
his command, by the State of Massachusetts, for de- 
stroying an Indian by the name of Harry. It was 
explored in 1785 by Solomon Adams and others, and 
located by Samuel Titcomb Esq., Surveyor to the State, 
and lotted by Solomon Adams in 1787. Saml. But- 
terfield built the first mills in Wilton about 1791. 
Isaac Brown was the first man who moved into the 
town. Wm. Walker, Amraial Clough, Joseph Web- 
ster, Silas Gould, Ebenezer Eaton, .losiah Perhara, 
Ebenezer Brown, Joshua Perley and Josiah Blake 
w^ere among the first settlers. Wilton lies west of, 
and adjoining Farmington. It has not only a pro- 
ductive soil but possesses superior advantages in wa- 
ter power; the Wilson Stream being one of the best 
in this section and running through the town from 
west to east. There are two considerable villages on 
the stream. What is called the Upper Village has a 
superior Grist Mill, two Saw Mills, two Starch Fac- 
tories, a Shingle Machine, a Fulling Mill, a Tripp 
Hammer, various kinds of Machinery, a Tannery, 
two Meeting Houses, a brick School House, two Tav- 
erns, a number of Stores, two Law Offices, with va- 
rious Mechanics. At the Lower Mills is a Grist Mill 
and Saw Mill, a Woolen Factory, one Meeting House, 
two Public Houses, a number of Stores, and various 
Mechanic Shops. There is also a Grist Mill and Saw 
Mill at the north part of the town, at the outlet to 
Varnum's Pond. The mills first built by Mr. Butter- 
field were where the Lower Village now stands. He 
soon after erected the first mills at the outlet of the 
pond at the Upper Village, where he successfully pros- 
ecuted business till his death, in about 1814. He 
was succeeded by Charles Morse who rebuilt the 
mills with considerable improvements, in 1840, when 
he introduced the first Burr Stones into this section, 
though some seven or eight sets have since been put 
in operation in the County. Col. Morse died in 1845. 



116 HiSTORYOF FaRMINGTON. 

He was a useful and much esteemeil citizen. Wilton 
was incorporated June 23, 1803 — population in 184:0, 
2198— polls, 401— valuation in 184-2, f 395, 163.— 
Tliere are three Freewill Baptist Churches, a Congre- 
gational Church, and several Methodist Societies in 

town. 

129— FREEMAN. 

Freeman, which joins Strong on the north, is the 
westerly of two townships granted hy the State of 
Massachusetts to the sufferers of Falmouth — now 
Portland, — in the burning of the town by the British 
in the Revolutionary AVar. It was surveyed and set- 
tled under the agency of Reuben Hill, about 1797. 
Wm. Brackley, David Hooper, Alexander Fassett, 
Saml. Weymouth, and Messrs Buibank, Morton and 
Boston, were some of the first settlers. It derives lit- 
tle advantage from water power, but it has a produc- 
tive soil, though rather hard to cultivate. The north- 
erly part of the town, or what is called Freeman 
Ridge, is said to be the best for tillage. Near the 
center of the town there has been a store for some 
years, but the town has no considerable village It 
was incorporated March 4, 1807, and takes its name 
from Samuel Freeman, late of Portland, who was one 
of the principal owners at the time of the settlement. 
Population in 1840, 838 — polls, 142— valuation in 
1842, .^83,902. It was formerly six miles square, 
but a part of its original territory has been attached 
to vSalem. 

1.30— PHILLIPS. 

Phillii's, formerly cnlk-il Ciirvo, — a name it received from Capt, I'erldns 
Allen on account of "its resemblance to a port he liad visited in a foreis^n 
voyage,— was incorporated Feb. 25,1812. It received the name of Phillips 
in honor of Mr. Phillips, the former proprietor. It lies about 17 miles in a 
nearly north-west direction from the Court House in Farniington. It former- 
ly embraced a territory of about nine miles in length and five in width; but 
in 182:'. a section froiii the north-east corner was set off to form a i)art (it 
Salem, and recently a stri]) three miles wide, from what was formerly Berlhi, 
has been attnclied' to the ^ve^t side. Imi>rovements commenced in Phillips 
as early as 1790 or !)1. Perkins Allen, Seth Greely and son. .Jonathan Pratt, 
Uriah and .Joseph Howard, and Isaac Davenport were among the first set- 
tlers. Sales were first made under the agency of Francis Tufts, but the 
agency siibseqeently passed into the hands of Jacob Abbott, Esq., who event- 
ually became the owner of the unsold lands.— There are two important vil- 



History of Farmington. 117 

lages, situated on the Sandy River, and near the southern extreniit.y of the 
town. There is a noble Avaterfall at the Lower Vilhige, (the best on the San- 
dy River,) where there is a superior grist mill, originally built by Francis 
Tufts, and afterwards rebuilt by Joel Whitney, into whose hands it passed, 
and who sold it to the present owners, Orin and Daniel Robins, by whom it 
has been enlarged and put in good repair. There are also at this village a 
tannery, a fulling mill and carding machine, a union Meeting House — the 
bell of which was presented by Joel Whitnc}', Esq.. — a convenient school 
house, some four or five stores, a public house, a law office, a saddle and 
harness maker's shop, two blacksmith's shops, a cabinet maker's shop,&c. — 
The Upper Villac;e is situated about lialf a mile above the Lower Village. 
It has a number of stores, two laAv oifices, a tannery, a public house, a num- 
ber of mechanic shops, a school house, (and, just above,} a meeting house, 
(Methodist,) a bridge, a saw mill and a starch fixctory. There are aiso a 
grist mill and saw mill higher up the river. The town possesses a product- 
ive soil, superior advantages in water power, and is so situated as to com- 
mand the most of the trade and other business of the interior of the County; 
and, such is the policy pursued by the business men that the inhabitants find 
a ready cash market for their surplus seed, wool, and most other articles. 
The most prominent religious societies are the Methodist and F. W. Baptist. 
The Congregationalists have a church. — Population in 1840, 1312; polls, 
22(). — Beriln had 442 inhabitants and 78 polls, which have mostly been add- 
ed to Phillips.— The valuation of Phliips in 1842 Aviis $166,770, and that of 
Berlin .f 28. 220, a large proportion of which has also passed to Phillips. 

131- WELD. 

Weld, formerly known as Number Five, or Webb's Pond Plantation, is a 
large town, containing about 48 square miles, and is about ten miles from 
the Court House in Farmington. It was settled about 1800. Nathauiel Kit- 
tredge, (Jaleb Holt, James Houghton, Abel Holt, and .loseph and Abel Russell 
were among the first settlers. There is a considerable village on the eastern 
side of V.'' ebb's Pond, on the Coos Road, known as Holt's Village, where there 
are two or three traders, a good grist mill, a blacksmith-s shop, tannery, 
carding machine, and sever.al good dwelling houses. A.bout two miles above, on 
the same road, there is another village, containing a town house, starch fiic- 
tory, -'sawmill, store, and blacksmith's shop. Webb's Po)id is a considerable 
body of water included in Weld. Webb's River rises from this pond, and run- 
ning southerly through Carthage, falls into the Androscoggin at Dixfield Vil- 
lage. The land around the pond is level, but ranges of mountains hem it in 
and im]->art a picturesque and romantic aspect to the landscape. On the south 
is seen Bear Moantain, in Carthage, on the east Mount Blue, the summitof which 
is 2860 feet above Webb's Pond, and nearly 4000 feet above the sea. On the 
north is Mount Metalic, which takes its name from an Indian who formerly 
inhabited it, and on the west is Ben Nevis. AYeld, as well as several adjoining 
towns, was surveyed by samuel Titcomb, Esq., Surveyor to the State. It was 
lotted by Philip Kullen in 1797, and originally purchased of the State by Jona. 
Phillips, of Boston, together with Temple, Avon, Phillips, Madrid, and Car- 
thage. Sales to settlers were commenced by .lacob Abbott, Esq., of Wilton, N. 
H., who moved to Andover, Mass., and from there to Brunswick, in this State. 
Mr. A. acted as agent for Phillips for some years. But in 1815 he purchased, 
in company with Benj. AVeld. of Boston, Mr. P. 's unsold lands in Maine. Mr. 
Abbott proceeded to the settlement of this and other towns, and procured the 
location of the Coos Road, by the State, from Ohesterville, through Wilton, Car- 
thage, and Wfld, passing the Notch by Mount Metalic, thence through Byron 
and East Andover to New Hampshire. Mr. Abbott died at Brunswick in 1820, 
aged 74. He was succeeded by his son, the late Jacob Abbott, Esq.. whodi- 
edin Farmington, Jan. 21, 1847, at the age of 70, (subsequently to the date 
at which the title page and first sheots of the first edition of this work were 
printed.) Mr. Abbott, as a man of business was prompt and systematic; as a 
Christian, devoted, and as a citizen, honest, pleasant, generous, useful, and re- 



118 History of Farmington. 

spected. Weld was incorporated Feb. 2, 1816, and derived its name from Mr. 
\\eld. then one of the owners. Benj. Weld was followed by his son Wi ham. 
who took the whole of Carthage, and one half of the I'eni^^jn'nS towns and sub- 
sequently conveyed to Dr. Lafayette Perkins, who settled m Wtdd m 1815, be- 
ing the first physician in theplace.-A Congregational Church was early organ- 
ized in the town, of which David Sterret was the first pastor. He w^as succeed- 
ed by Hermon Stinson. Rev. Mr. Gould is the present pastor. They haxe a 
convenient Meeting House in the eastern part of the town. Rev Leniu el Jack- 
son, from Green, opened a religious meeting in 1804, and a Bixptmt Church was 
constituted in 1809. Abel Holt and Amariah Reed were its Deacons. The lat- 
ter was ordained an evangelist in 1811. Mr. Jackson remained till 1823. Va- 
rious preachers have simce labored in the place, Luther Perkins is the present 
pastor. Members to the number of 200 have been received and about one-fourth 
of that number remain. A small Freewill Baptist Chixrch has been organized 

"^^^"^- 132-KINGFIELD. 

KixGPiELP was formerly Plantation Number Three, Range One, Bingham's 
Purchase, and was surveyed by Solomon Adams in 1808. Settlements com- 
menced about 1806. It was incorporated Jan. 24, 1816 Its name was se- 
lected in honor of Hon. Wm. King, the first Governor of Maine, a principal 
proprietor. It is situated about 20 miles from Farmington, m a direction neai-- 
1y north. It is watered by the Seven Mile Brook, two branches of which 
meet near the south-east corner of the town, where mills were early put in 
opeiation, and where there is a considerable village. It has no Meeting House, 
but meetings are sustained a part of the time by most of the religious soe.e- 
ties. and several churches have been organized. Population in 1840, 671; 
number of polls, 119; valuation in 1842, .f 64, 171. 
133— SALEM. 

Salem was formed of parts of Freeman, PliiUips, and Number Four in the 
First Range, Bingham's Purchase, or the "Million Acres," and was incor- 
porated in 1823 bV the name of North Salem, which was afterwards changed 
by leaving ofi- the "North." It is drained by the westerly branch of the 
Seven Mile Brook, which empties into the Kennebec at Anson. It lies about 
fifteen miles northerly from the Court House in Farmington. Benj. Heath. 
2d, frcmi Farmington, made the first "chopping," about 181... where he and 
John Church, 1st, and Samuel Church removed in 181/, and who with 
Messrs. Double and Hayford, who moved in the same season, were the first 
settlers in the place, the mills were put in operation by the Messrs 
Heath in 1818-19, when Berj. Heath, 1st, and Simeon A. Heath moved into 
the place. The town is very conveniently situated, has a free and produc- 
tive soil, and a valuable mill privilege, where there is a village containing 
two stores, a saw mill, a grist mill, starch factory, potash ')"<,\ ^'^"""ir'^' 
chanics. Population in 1840, 561; polls, 82; valuation m 1842, ^3J,3»1.— 
The inhabitants have no meeting house, but meetings are sustained on the 
Sabbath a part of the time, principally by Methodists and Freewill Baptists. 

134-CARTHAGE. 

Carthage, formerly Number Four. Abbott's Purchase, lies south of Weld, 
and we i Wilton ami Temple. It was incorporated in 1821). It is drained 
Sy Webb's River, which runs southerly. The eastern part of the town is 
broken by quite a range of mountains, variously denominarcd the Bear, had- 
d Sk?;,'Blueberr;Mountain, but it has a cmsiderable <l-\"tity of am 
fit for cultivation. The town formerly had extensive urests ot pine. ^^ l^; "^ 
Bowley and Winter were the. first who settled ... the t'.wn and the fir- 
med 7whom built what are called B..wley-s Mills, on Webb's 1 iver. The 
"wii was lotted by Solomon Adams in 1803. Dr ^^-l--' «\/™S' 
is now the proprietor of the unsold lands. Populatien in 1840, o22, polls, 
91; valuation in 1842, $41,235. 



HiSTdRY OF FaRMINGTON. 



119 



135— MAI )K II). 
Madkid is soiiK-thin- more than twenty miles in a direction about north- 
vest trom the Court House in Farmington. Tlie toM-nsliip ^vas formerly own- 
ed by Mr. Phillips, and subsequently passed into tlie hands of Jacob Abbott 
whose heirs still own the unsettled land, amounting to nearly half the town- 
ship, and some of which is unfit for cultivation. Settlements were com- 
menced about 1S07. or 8. Abel Cook, David Ross, John Sargent, Lemuel 
I lumnier. Miller Ilinkley. Joseph Dunham, Ebenezer Cawkitis, and Nathl 
We Is were among the first settlers. Madrid has three Saw Mills, a Grist 
Mil , two Clai)board Machines, two Shingle Machines, but no house for 
public Avorshij). Meetings are held in school houses and though the town is 
but partially srttled the inhabitants have sustained stated meetings on the 
babhoth most of the time from the commencement of the settlement A F 
W. Laj.tist Church was early organized. Eld. Joseph Dyer of Phillips, thoucrh 
at an advanced age, has gratuitously taken the oversight of the church, and 

?Qm Qcs"^"^!/''™/ """f* °/ *'.''' ^T"" foj-al^out 14 years. Population in 
IbiO, 368; polls, (14 ; valuation in 1842; §21. 181.* 

INDEX. 



The figures refer to Seutiuiis, not to Pajies 



Abbott, Asa, 100 

Abbott, Jacob, Esq. 84 ; 127 ; 131 

Abbott, Benj. 197 

Abbott, Rev. Samuel, 88 

Abbott Family School, 58. 

Abbott, A. H. 8(J 

Academy, 85 ; list of Trustees 85 ; 
List of Teachers. 86 

Adams, Solomon, 17, 20, 27, 148 
Joshua, 95 

Allen, Rufus, 64 

Austin, John. 51 

Associates, Reu. Colburnfe, 16. 17,20 

Avon, Sketch of history &c. 124 

Baptists, 113 

Baker, Prince, 120 

Bailey, Oliver, .',7 

Battle, Joseph, 43, 62 

Barter trade among settlers, 65 

Beedy, Rev. Thomas, 117 

Belcher, Supply, 40; Hiram, 107: 

Hannibal, 107; Samuel, 107 
Beaver Dam Brook, 6 
Beale, Daniel, 100 
Billings, Oliver, 109, 103 
Blacksmiths, 96 

Blackstone, B. 45 ^ , 

Butterfield, Samuel, 29; Jonas, .39^' 

Jesse, 36; Reuben, 46 
Butler, Benj. 42Butler, Elijah, 95 
Blake, Jeriah, 24 
Blodget, Nehemiah, 28 
Bridges, 12;Center, 90, 98, Falls, 91, 

Fairbanks', 93 
Brown, Joseph, 22; Ebenezer, 109 
Bullen, S. 50 
Bradford, Josej^h, 48 
Caldwell, Joseph, 105 
Carpenters, 97 
Carthage, 134 

Chandler. Moses, 47 ; Samuel, 50 
Chamberlain, H. V. 107 



riTesterville, 123 
Childs, E. 100 
Church, John, 44, 80 
Christains, denomination of. 116 
Chronological Notes, (see 2d dage) 
Congregationalists, 415 
Cox, Hugh, 60 
Common, 12 
Corbett, Peter, 31 
Cony, Hartson, 38 ; 100 
Cowan, Ephraim. 56 ; D. B. 56 
Craig, Enoch, 25 
Croswell, Thomas, 100 
Cushman, Jonathan, 59 
Cutler, Nathan, 107 ; John L. 107 
Davis, Nathl. 23; Nathan, 118 
Davenport, Philip, 51 
Dodge, Rev. Benj. 118 
Dorr, R. H. 118 
Dyar, Rev. Joseph, 135 
Eaton, Jacob, 52 
Emerson, Rev. Mr. 109 
E^xploration for settlement, the par- 
ty, their route, 13 ; Return route, 15 
Fairbanks, Jos. 63, 100 
Fairbanks' Mills Stream, 5 
Farmington, situatirn and Bounda- 
ries, 1, 68 ; Soil, 10; Forest trees, 
10 ; Scenery, 10 ; Incorporation, 
67 ; Organzation, 69 ;Growth,108 
Survey, 17, 18 ; Town Officers, 
103; Title to Territory, 1(!, 17, 
20, G(] 
Freewill Baptists, 109, 110, 111, 135 
Fish, alewives, salmon, trout, &c. 7 
Flint, Dr. Thos. luO, 105 ; Ed. 122 
Funds, public, 89 

Gay, Elisha, 59; J. Talbot, 109, 118 
Goodenow, Robert, 107 
Gonld, Jesse, 33. Wm. 33 ; Silas, 33 
Gower, Robert, 37 
Green, Dea. Nathaniel. n5:Josiah, 



120 



History of Faumington. 



5J) ; Jonas, 59 
Guile, Saml. 105 
Greely. Jos. 38; Sctb, 39 
Hall, Rev. Hczekiah, 115 
Hartwell. E, 58 

Hatters, 99— Kobert Baker, C. At- 
kinson, Colburn Emerson, Wood 
& Bond. Isaac Hibbard, Thomas 
Spoontr. 99 
Henderson, Dr. J. 105 
Hiscock, Thomas, 56 
Holland, Jos. 43, 100 
Holly Neighborhood, C>2 
Holly, Marchant, 118 
Hopkins, Theophilus, 105 
Holt. Kev. Fifield, 115 . 
Hunters, 8 
Huston, Jolm. 51 

Indians, Traces of. Relics, 14, Cruel- 
ty, A heroic Girl, 48 ; Pierpole, 
14, 122 
Industry, Sketch of, 12G 
Jay, Sketch of history of, 121 
Johnson, Jos. 100; Thos. 100; Tim- 

otliy, 80, 109 
Kannady, Wm. 2G 
Keen, Samuel, 50 
Kingfleld, 132 ' 
Knowlton, Jonathan, 30, 79, Eran- 

cis, Samuel, 30 
Lawyers, 107 
Lee, Rev. Jesse, 109, 112 
Lock. Edward, 109 
Lowell, Reuben, 35, Rosinms K.lOO 
Lumber, 97 
Mails, 72 

Mayhew, Zacheus, 38, 64,72 
Marriage, First in E. 43 
Madrid, 135 
Maple Sugar, 05 
Merchants, 100 
Meadows, Natural, 9 
Meeting Houses, Eirst at Ealls, 79— 
Center, 80— Brick, 81— EreowiU 
Baptist, 82— Baptist, 83— Cong. 
84 
Methodists, 112— Protestant M,118— 

Wesleyan Methodists, 119 
Moors, David, 100 
Morrill, David 111 
Mills, Eirst Imilt in 1781; Starhng s 
Mills, 73; Ealls, 74; Keith's^ 75; 
Fairbanks', 76; Russell's, 77 
Fulling Mills, 78 
Morse, Charles, 128 
New Vineyard, 125 
New Sharon, 120 
Norton, E))enezer, 55; Peter, (M; ICli- 

iah, 89 
Orchard, First ])lanted in E., G3 
Page, Reuben, 45; Isaac. 50; Amos 



.55;Ezekiel, .55 
Parker, Thomas, [See Preface] 
Perham, Lemuel, 57 
Perkins, Dr. L., 105, 131 ; Isaac, 64 
Phillips, Dr. A., 105 
Phillips, hist, of, 130 
Phj^sicians, 105 
Pope, E., 107 
Porter, Ezekiel, 61 
Powder House, 94 
Pool, Samuel, 95 
Prescott, Dr. J., 105 
Prayer for Rain answered, 112 
Proprietorship, original of the town, 

How settled, &c., 66 
Randall, J., 107 

Representatives, list of, 70. 104 
P.esolve of legislature relative to pro- 
prietors' titles, ('>(j 
Reed, Wm., 122 
Rice, John, .59 
Riant, Joseph, 60 

Rogers, llev. I,. 115; Daniel, 116 
Russ, Simeon, 41; John, 78 
Roads, 11, 18, 71, 101 
Sandy River described, 2, Indian 

Name of, 8 
Salem, laS 
School Funds, S9 
Sewall, Rev. Jotham, 115; Samuel, 54 

Dummer, 43, 66 
Sliaw, John and Ebenezer, 78 
Smith, Abraham, 58 

Soule, Z. 107 

Smith, Eliphalet, 109 

Starling, Moses, 53, 109, 112 

Starling's Mill Stream. 1 

Stowers, Saiul. 58 

Stoyell, Aaron, 105 

Strong, 122 

Stinchficld, Jeremiah, 78 

Survey, original, by Avhom, &c. 17,18 

Sylvester, Jos. 109, 42 

Sweet, Ebenezer, 45, 95 

Tanneries, 95 

Teague, Isaac, 50 

Titles to lands, 16, 17, 20, 66 

Titcomb, Stephen, 13, 21, 79 

Town Officers, 103 

Townsend, S. 0. 95; Lntlier, 95 

Thompson, Zenas, 114 

Temple, 127 

Tufts, 32, lOo; John, 64 

ITnitarians, 117 

Universalisls, 114 

Weld, 131 

Wcathern, Bcnj. 34; Micah, 45 

Wendell, Thomas. 62 

Whittier, Benjamin, 56 

Wilton, 128 

Woods, J. F. 57 58. 109. 116 



APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC. 

A SECOND and revised edition of the late Judge 
Parker's History of Farmington and Sketches of oth- 
er Towns m the County of Erankhn, is now just is- 
sued from the press, and thrown into the market with 
an appeal. 

The new edition is furnished with a copious index, 
and the large amount of statistical fact and family 
history which it contains renders it almost as indis- 
pensable as an English Dictionary in each family 
within the limits of the town. 

But it must not be forgotten that its sale must be 
mainly limited to the town, and its publication must 
prove a losing investment to the publisher unless a 
successful appeal can be made to the generosity of 
the public. 

And it only remains for the community to decide 
whether the history which Judge Parker suspended 
twenty-nine years ago shall now be completed in an 
Appendix whicli must necessarily be larger than the 
original work — up to the present date. 

The publisher has accumulated abundant material 
to till up this period — a period of great historic im- 
portance when contemplated in view of the changes 
and progress incident to the opening of railroad com- 
munication, the developement of new departments of 
industry and the results of the war of the rebellion. 

but, if in regard to a local enterprize like this, 
niggardly meanness, or an opportunity to read a bor- 
rowed copy, is permitted to limit the sale of the 
edition now ottered, below the actual expenses of 
printing, the Appendix will not be issued. 

Ihe actual expenses of this edition will require a 
sale of a number of copies nearly equal to the num- 
ber of polls included in the population of the town, 
and the publisher now appeals to the generosity ot 
his friends and fellow citizens to decide whether or 
not he shall at once commence work on the Appen- 
dix. J- ^- ^^^^^'^- 









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